Clements, Charles William

Charles William was the second son of Herbert and Annie Maria (nee Reynolds) born on 9 April 1890 at Ashwell, Hertfordshire, christened on 1 June 1890, He was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.

It is thought Charles enlisted in June 1915 with the 3/1 Home Counties Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (which was a branch of the Territorial Army), but there are no records relating to this. The only reference is in the report of his marriage in the local newspaper, and the uniform in the photograph. It is not known when he transferred to the Royal Hampshires. The Absent Voters list of 1918 shows Charles with the Hampshire Regiment and all other references corroborate this.

He served 1/6^th Royal Hampshire (Duke of Connaught’s Own) Regiment (Regimental Number 205393) which, in 1917 was transferred to the 52^nd Brigade of the 17^th Indian Division, and Charles spent a year in India. In October 1918 the regiment moved to Mesopotamia and finished the War in Fatha, north of Tikrit. He survived the War.

Charles awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

The 1911 census shows him as a farm labourer.

Charles married Alice Louisa Cooper in Halton, Buckinghamshire on 7 November 1915. They had four children, Norman William George born on 15 March 1917, Margery born on 28 August 1919, George Herbert born 26 June 1921, and Lawrence Charles born on 16 March 1924.

The 1939 census shows them living at The Lodge, Odsey, Cambridgehire. The 1949 electoral rolls show Charles, Alice, Norman and his wife living in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

Charles died at the St Peters Hospital, Chertsey, Surrey on 20 October 1953.

Charles had two brothers who served in WWI, Herbert George and Harold Christopher, both survived.

Royston Crow 7 Dec 1915 Marriage of Private Clements – On Dec 9 at St John’s Church, Egham, Surrey, Private CW Clements, of the 3/1^st Home Counties Field Ambulance RAMC, the second son of Mr and Mrs H Clements of Ashwell, was married to Miss Alice Louisa Cooper daughter of Mrs G Cooper, of Staines, Middlesex. The marriage service was performed by the Rev AE Tranton (curate). The bride was given away by her brother (Mr G Cooper) and Pte S Thomas acted as best man. Mr and Mrs Clements have three sons serving with the Colours. One has been out to the Front, and has been sent home wounded in the left arm. The bridegroom is at present with his Company at Halton Park, near Tring.

Royston Crow 8 Mar 1918 Ashwell Soldiers in India – Pte C W Clements, of Ashwell, who is stationed in India, received on Jan 16 a registered letter containing a Christmas gift. As he does not know the kind friend who sent this, he wishes to express his thanks through the medium of this Paper.