Private Frederick Clements

Frederick Clements was born to parents Henry Clements and Jane (nee Planner ) who had had married on 26th November 1871 at the Parish Church in Newington Southwark. By the time Frederick was born in 1889 they already had six children, and one other child who had died.

By 1891 Frederick’s parents Henry age 43 and Jane aged 40 were living at 127 New Kent Road with their large family and Henry was listed as a foreman at a Mineral works. The family remained living at the same address for many years and were still there in 1901 when Frederick was aged 12.

By 1911 Frederick’s parents Henry and Jane had been married for 38 years and of their 8 children two had died. They were now residing at 1 Brighton House in Camberwell Green and Henry was listed as a Publican employing two people. None of their own children were living with them.

Frederick now aged 22 was living with his brother Frank aged 27 and sister Janet 29 and her husband William O’Neill aged 33. Janet and William had been married for 4 years and had two children Norah aged 3 and Eileen one month. Older brother Frank was listed as head of the household working as a Licensed Victualler whilst Frederick, Janet and William were all listed as assisting in the business. They were all living at “The Royal Albert” 51 East Street, Walworth.

Sometime in early 1914 Frederick travelled to Australia and found work at a hotel in Perth.

When war broke out Frederick was single and aged 25. He enlisted in Perth Australia with the 12th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force in June 1915 where he was described as aged 26 and 5 month, height 5 feet 6 ¼, weight 140 lbs, chest 36-38 ½, dark complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. His occupation was listed as a Hotel employee working at the Hotel Metropole, Hay Street in Perth.

Frederick left Australia on the 1st September 1915 heading for Gallipoli with his Battalion. After their withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 12th Battalion returned to Egypt and, in March 1916, sailed for France and the Western Front where the battalion took part in bitter trench warfare for the rest of the war. The battalion's first major action was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in July 1916. After Pozieres, the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders and then returned to the Somme for winter.

During Frederick’s service he had several spells in hospital. He also went Absent without leave (AWL) from 3pm 4th Jan 1917 to 4pm 7th January 1917 and was held in detention for 96 hours then in custody awaiting trial where he was fined 9 day’s pay. On 23rd March 1917 Frederick was transferred to the 70th Battalion and remained in England with this regiment until the 8th October 1917.

On the 9th October he proceeded to Southampton and then embarked overseas to France to re-join the 12th Battalion who were now in Belgium. He was back with his unit on the 20th October 1917 ready to participate in the offensive that became known as the Third battle of Ypres.

On 6th November 1917 whilst still in Belgium he was wounded in action and suffered a serious injury to his left leg. He was evacuated on the HMS Aberdonian on 13th November 1917 back to England and admitted to Richmond Hill hospital where his left leg was amputated. He was then transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, in Harefie on 12th February 1918 where he died on the 28th March 1918 aged 29 .from his wounds. Cause of death was Empyema and Sepsis from the amputated leg.

Frederick was buried at Harefield Parish Churchyard on Saturday 30th March 10.30am He was given a military funeral with Trooper Green from his unit blowing the last post. Pallbearers from the staff and a few patients attended the funeral, along with relatives including brother, father and four others. His father’s address was listed as 62 High Street, Colliers Wood, Merton.

A marble headstone was erected to mark Frederick’s grave in Harefied Parish Churchyard. Frederick is also mentioned on a memorial at Christ Church in Colliers Wood.