Private William G Clements

William George Clements was the eldest of nine children of William George and Florence Edith (Murchison) Clements, of Islington, London; husband of Lucy Rose (Pearce) Clements, of Walthamstow, Essex. Married in Walthamstow on 22 June 1940.

He worked as a wood machinist in Walthamstow and was a very fit all round sportsman, winning numerous trophies and medals, mostly for boxing and some for football. He joined the Bethnal Green boxing club at an early age and continued to box in the Army as a flyweight.

His younger brother, born 15 October 1918 enlisted in the Royal Navy and was Mentioned in Despatches (MiD). Able Seaman George Frederick Clements, No. C/SSX 24276 was lost at sea on 20 January 1942, aged 23, serving in HM Submarine Triumph, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

William enlisted in the General Service Corps on 4 February1943, and was posted to No. 62 Training Wing, Canterbury, and then transferred to Royal East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) on 18 March 1943. He was attached to the No. 1 Infantry Tank Training Wing at Shoeburyness on 19 May 1943 and on volunteering for airborne forces he was transferred to 12th Battalion Devonshire Regiment on 5 October 1943 and successfully completed glider training before taking part in Operation Varsity (Rhine Crossing).

Pte Clements was killed in action on 24 March 1945, aged 32, and was given a field burial at Hamminkeln and was re-interred to Reichswald Forest War Cemetery on 24 April 1947.

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