Part 45

=CLEMENTS, THOMAS HAROLD=, Trooper, No. 2803, 2nd Life Guards, _s._ of the late Robert Henry Clements, by his wife, Harriett (St. Mary’s Street, Monmouth), dau. of Richard Smith; _b._ Monmouth, 17 Oct. 1892; educ. Grammar School there (1907–1911), winning several scholarships. He joined the Army, 17 Oct. 1911, and went to the Front, 15 Aug. 1914. On the night of 12 May, 1915, he was in the trenches at Potijze, and was under very heavy shell fire for three hours. The trenches were blown in, and while returning to the support trenches, he was struck by shrapnel and killed instantly. He was buried at Potijze, 1 mile north-east of Ypres; _unm._ Trooper Clements was an excellent athlete, and one of the finest forwards of the school Rugby football team, his work in the open and at the line-outs being particularly good, besides being a fearless tackler. He also played several times for the Monmouth Rugby Club. While at the school he secured prizes at the sports, and in last year won the mile in 5 mins. 28 secs., and secured second place in the open hurdles. In 1910 he rowed in the school crew and also was a member of the crew in 1911 which defeated Hereford Cathedral School at Hereford by three lengths, this being the first victory for the Monmouth crew for some years. The triumphant crew led from the start. When Trooper Clements joined the Guards he interested himself in the regimental athletics and was a member of their team which was defeated in the final Army Cup, 1912–13 season. He was for many years a member of the parish church choir and also a server.

=CLEMSON, GEORGE ERNEST=, 1st Class Stoker, R.F.R.B., 8133, Ch/S.S. 103962, 4th _s._ of the late Thomas Thornhill Clemson, Cowman, by his wife, Ellen Matilda (Syneham, near Chipping Norton, Oxford) (College Farm, Milton-under-Wychwood, Oxon), dau. of Charles Stone; _b._ Idbury, 26 Aug. 1883; educ. Chilson, near Charlbury; joined the Navy, and at the time of the outbreak of war was a Reservist. He was lost in the North Sea when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed, 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._

=CLERK, SMOLLETT DAVID MACGREGOR=, Private, No. 1388, B Coy., 1/4th Battn. (Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots, (T.F.), elder _s._ of Claude Louis Clerk, employed in the Eastern Extension Telegraph Co., Singapore, by his wife, Lily (158, Braid Road, Edinburgh), dau. of the late David Aitken, of Gourock, Scotland, Advocate, Solicitor and Notary Public, Straits Settlements; _b._ Singapore, 25 April, 1895; educ. George Watson’s College, Edinburgh, and in 1911 entered the National Bank of Scotland. On the outbreak of war, he enlisted in the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles, Royal Scots, left with the 1/4th Battn. for the Dardanelles, and was killed in action at Gallipoli, 28 June, 1915; _unm._

=CLERY, CARLETON LUMLEY ST. CLAIR=, 2nd Lieut., Indian Army, attached 4th Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt., elder _s._ of Col. Carleton Buckley Laming Clery, 104th Wellesley’s Rifles, Indian Army, C.B., by his wife, Jessie Violet, dau. of C. P. Fielon, and nephew of Lumley Clery, of Riverdene, Broxbourne; _b._ Burmah, 5 Dec. 1895; educ. Malvern College, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, when he passed into the Indian Army. On the outbreak of war he was attached to the 4th Battn. of the Liverpool Regt., 15 Aug. 1914; went to the Front, 5 March, 1915, and had only been there a week when he was killed in action, being struck by a shell at Richebourg St. Vaast, Flanders, 12 March, 1915; _unm._

=CLEVERLEY, ALBERT ERNEST=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 15596, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CLIFF, ARTHUR JAMES=, Carpenter’s Crew, M. 4114, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CLIFF, HERBERT THEODORE=, Major, 3rd Battn. West Yorkshire Regt., yst. _s._ of William Dewhirst Cliff, of Meanwood Towers, Leeds, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of James Wade; _b._ Highfield House, Wortley, Leeds; educ. Cothill (Abingdon) and Repton College; joined the Militia in 1901, and was promoted Capt. Aug. 1901; when the Militia was disbanded he joined the Special Reserve of Officers, receiving his majority 19 May, 1913. He served in the South African war, and was specially selected for accelerated promotion, and remained as Musketry Inspector till the post was done away with; and also in the Mediterranean, receiving a medal. On the outbreak of the European war he rejoined, and left with his regt. for the Front at the end of Sept. 1914. On the morning of 13 Oct. he was wounded, but he fought gallantly and refused to give in, and officers present at the time spoke with great praise of his bravery. Later the same day he was killed by a shell. Major Cliff was a keen sportsman, and played frequently for the Yorkshire Gentlemen, of which cricket club he was a member for many years; he was also a regular follower of the Bramham Moor, York and Ainsty, and Lord Middleton’s hounds. He _m._ at Walton-on-Thames, Mary Alice, dau. of Arnold Trinder, of River House, Walton-on-Thames, and had a son, Anthony Dewhirst, _b._ 15 Aug. 1913.

=CLIFF, WALTER=, A.B. (R.F.R. A. 3958), 144621, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CLIFFE, NICKOLAS HENRY=, Private, No. 14700, Fort Garry Horse, attd. 10th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late William Cliff, of Fleece Inn, Preston, Publican, by his wife, Alice, dau. of John Burton; _b._ Preston, co. Lancaster, 15 July, 1881; enlisted in the Loyal North Lancashire Regt. at the time of the South African War, and served through that campaign, afterwards going to Canada and settling in Winnipeg. After the outbreak of the European War he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Festubert, 22 May, 1915; _unm._

=CLIFFORD= (formerly =WILLIAMS=), =ANTHONY CLIFFORD=, B.A., M.B., B.C., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Lieut., Reserve of Officers, 3rd Dragoon Guards, yst. _s._ of the late Rev. Henry Williams. M.A., C.M.S. Missionary in India, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of the Rev. John Bryant Clifford, Vicar of St. Matthew’s, Kingsdown, Bristol; _b._ Bristol, 13 July, 1888; educ. St. Oswald’s School, Clifton, and Marlborough; went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in 1900, when he took the name of Clifford. He belonged to the University O.T.C., and after taking his B.A. degree, went to Guy’s Hospital in 1909, where he took his M.B., and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Reserve of Officers, 18 May, 1912. At the outbreak of war he had just qualified as a doctor, but was called up for active service; was attached to the 3rd Dragoon Guards; went to the Front as a machine-gun officer in May, and was killed in action at Hooge, 2 June, 1915. He was remounting his gun in a new position after the first position had been blown in, when he was shot through the head and killed instantly. Buried in the annexe of the churchyard at Vlamertinghe. Trooper W. Spencer in a letter home wrote: “A hundred shells fell in twenty minutes around our left Maxim gun. Lieut. Clifford timed them as cool as a cucumber, with his watch in his hand. This brave officer lost his life later in the day. Our officers worked like heroes. They were Capt. Holt and Lieut. Clifford.”

=CLIFTON, FREDERICK CHARLES=, E.R.A., 4th Class, 272033, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CLIFTON, HAROLD NORTON=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, yr. _s._ of William Edward Clifton, of 7, East India Avenue, London, E.C., Architect and Surveyor, and 12, Cambridge Square, Hyde Park, London, W., Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects and of the Surveyors’ Institution, by his wife, Isabel, dau. of the late James Nelson, of Carlisle; _b._ 32, Ashley Gardens, Westminster, 7 May, 1894; educ. St. Peter’s Court, Broadstairs, and Harrow; joined the Artists’ Rifles in 1913, and went with the Corps to France in Oct. 1914, as a Corpl., obtaining a commission in the Coldstream Guards, 1 Jan. 1915. He was severely wounded at Cuinchy, near La Bassée, 25 Jan. 1915, and died of his wounds in a German field hospital, 1 Feb. following, and was buried at Billy Berclau, near La Bassée; _unm._ At Harrow, 2nd Lieut. Clifton was in the Sixth Form, a school monitor, head of his house (Druries), a member of the football eleven, captain of the swimming and middle-weight boxer for the school for two years, competing in the Public Schools Competition at Aldershot. He was also a member of the Richmond Football Club.

=CLIFTON, HERBERT PERCIVILLE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4555), S.S. 103666, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CLIFTON, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 2938, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CLINTON, RICHARD=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 296947, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CLOSE, MAX ARTHUR=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Highland L.I., elder _s._ of George Arthur Close, of Westbury, East Finchley, N. by his wife, Sarah, dau. of the late William Swift, of Smethwick, Staffordshire; _b._ Stroud Green, co. Middlesex, 14 Sept. 1889; educ. Christ’s College, Finchley, and afterwards in France and Germany. He joined the 1st Battn. Artists’ Rifles in 1908, and on the outbreak of the war, volunteering for foreign service, was sent to France in Oct. 1914. He did his probationary work in the 2nd Border Regt. at Ypres in Nov. 1914, and was gazetted to the 1st Battn. Highland L.I., 1 Jan. 1915, and promoted Lieut. While gallantly leading his platoon in an attack from Neuve Chapelle on 12 March, 1915, he was hit in the head, and died shortly afterwards. He was buried outside the trenches, south-east of Neuve Chapelle; _unm._ Col. E. R. Hill, officer commanding 1st Highland L.I., wrote: “In him we mourn one more of those gallant fellows who responded so promptly to the call of duty and set an example to the country.” Lieut.-Col. H. A. R. May, officer commanding Artists’ Rifles, also wrote: “Your son unswervingly persisted in carrying out what he conceived to be his duty. He splendidly upheld all the best traditions of the British Army, and he won the esteem of all with whom he came in contact. His name will always be remembered by us with pride.”

=CLOUGH, ALEXANDER JAMES=, Chief Stoker, 291102, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=CLOUGH, THOMAS WOODHEAD=, Private, No. 2017, C. Coy. 14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Thomas Woodhead Lister Clough, of 8, Marsfield Terrace, West Bowling, Bradford, co. Yorks, retired Milk Dealer, by his wife, Alice (died 17 Feb. 1914), dau. of William (and Martha) Downes; _b._ West Bowling, 31 Dec. 1887; educ. Marshfield School, where he gained certificates entitling him to give lessons in shorthand, typing, etc.; and after serving 7 years with Messrs. Wright and Morgan, solicitors, Bradford and Shipley, secured an important position in their London Office. He had joined the Manchester Territorials, 15 Jan. 1912, and was transferred to the London Scottish, 31 Jan. 1914. On the outbreak of war the London Scottish at once volunteered for foreign service and were the first Territorial Force to go into action. In a letter to his father dated 30 Oct. (found subsequent to his death and forwarded 18 Nov.) he wrote: “Our regt. are now in the firing line. We joined it here yesterday. The big guns of the Germans are banging away whilst I am writing this letter. Sir John French has just sent for us. Good-bye. Don’t worry. Love to all. Your affectionate Son, Thomas.” He was mortally wounded in the great charge of the London Scottish at Messines, France, 31 Oct. 1914, and died at the 1st London General Hospital, St. Gabriel College, Camberwell, S.E., from gunshot wound in the groin, Sunday, 18 Nov. following, and was buried in Camberwell Borough Cemetery; _unm._ Lieut.-Col. Malcolm, commanding the London Scottish, wrote to Private Clough’s father: “No commanding officer could have had under his command a braver or more gallant soldier than your son, who so nobly gave his life for his country.” On this occasion F.M. Sir John French telegraphed to Col. Malcolm: “I wish you and your splendid, splendid regt. to accept my warmest congratulations and thanks for the fine work you did yesterday at Messines. You have given a glorious lead and example to all Territorial troops who are going to fight in France,” and in forwarding it Major-General E. H. Allenby, G.O.C. Cavalry Corps, wrote: “The behaviour of officers and men of the London Scottish was worthy of the best traditions of British Regular troops. Only their steadiness and courage saved a situation that was as difficult and critical to deal with as will ever occur.”

=CLOUGHLEY, JOSEPH ERNEST=, Private, No. 47828, 15th Battn. (48th Canadian Highlanders), Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Thomas Henry Cloughley, of Barrie, Ontario, Canada; _b._ Colwell, Ontario, 31 March, 1893; enlisted in the 37th Battn. at Barrie in Dec. 1914; was transferred to the 17th Battn., on landing in England in June, and on 17 July was drafted to the 15th Battn. and sent to the Front. He died in No. 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 6 Nov., 1915, of wounds received in action. A comrade in writing home spoke of him as “such a brave, courageous fellow, ever found willing and ready to render assistance whenever necessary.”

=CLOVER, REGINALD WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R. B. 6552), 202676, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CLUBLEY, IRIS=, 1st Class, K. 9588, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=CLUTTERBUCK, HENRY=, Capt., 1st Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., eldest _s._ of the late James Jacques Clutterbuck, of Hampton Lovett, Droitwich, formerly of Gloucester, by his wife, Elizabeth Anna, dau. of Rudolph Appell; _b._ Chacewater, Cornwall, 23 Jan. 1874; educ. King Edward’s School, Birmingham; enlisted in the Coldstream Guards, 28 July, 1893, became L.-Corpl. 22 June, 1894; Corpl. 22 May, 1896; L.-Sergt. 12 Dec. 1896; Sergt. 1 Dec. 1897, and Orderly Room Sergt. 1 Dec. 1897. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Yorkshire L.I. 25 Aug. 1900, and was promoted Lieut. 23 Nov. 1901, and Capt. in the Royal Lancashire Regt. 20 Nov. 1907. He served in the South African War, 1899–1902, being attached to the Army Service Corps from 1 June, 1901. He took part in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. He was present during the operations in the Orange Free State, including those at Paardeberg (17–26 Feb.), and the actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Karee Siding, Vet River (5–6 May) and Zand River. He was also in the operations in the Transvaal, May to Sept. 1900, and from Nov. 1900 to May, 1902, and received the Queen’s medal with six clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. Capt. Clutterbuck was Adjutant to the King’s Own Malta Regt. from 20 June, 1904, to 9 July, 1909, and afterwards served in India, interesting himself in the welfare of the soldiers, and in encouraging temperance and thrift among them, and was commended by the Commander-in-Chief of India for his work. He was to have taken up the appointment of Garrison Adjutant at Bordon, 1 Oct. 1914, but on the outbreak of war, left for France, 21 Aug. and was killed in action at Haucourt, France, between Le Cateau and Cambray, 26 Aug. 1914, and was buried in the cemetery there. Capt. Clutterbuck was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s despatch of 21 Aug. [London Gazette, 19 Oct.], 1914, “for his conspicuous bravery under heavy shell fire, and his gallantry in leading bayonet charges.” A brother officer wrote: “On the fateful 20 Aug., Capt. Clutterbuck, Mr. ........ and self were in a village, and about 8.30 p.m. about 150 Germans made a night attack on us. Just when the attack was starting Capt. Clutterbuck came up with about 50 men to help, as things looked bad. Capt. Clutterbuck then performed an act of great gallantry; he personally led 15 men with Mr. ........ to drive about 50 of the Germans away from a church where our wounded were. They called upon Capt. Clutterbuck to surrender; he would not, and I am afraid was then instantaneously killed. He had absolutely no suffering and his body was taken into the church.... This act of Capt. Clutterbuck’s was most gallant, he would not entertain anybody else doing the noble work which he did, thereby saving the lives of most of us....” Another officer wrote: “I thought perhaps you might care to hear from me, as I was with your husband the whole of the first day. He and I lay under very heavy shell fire, with about 100 men, for the whole morning and afternoon, and it was entirely through his influence that we kept the men together at all. After dark we went down to a village in order to turn some Germans out with about 30 men, which was all we could collect. We met them there in force, your husband ordered and led a charge against them which was so successful and well led by him that we cleared the village. He was shot leading us against a party a great deal stronger than our lot, who were at one end of a street. Throughout the day he was perfectly marvellous and cheerful in the worst times, and the men have since told me when talking about it, that his coolness and gallantry in leading charges in the street fighting was extraordinary. Of course, he was exactly the sort of officer who has made our regt. as famous as it is.” He _m._ at Valletta, Malta, 27 April, 1908, Cora Gwendoline Rajaela, yst. dau. of the late Gerard Myburgh, of Orange Grove, Cape Town, Consul-General for the Netherlands in South Africa; _s.p._

=COARD, HENRY HAROLD=, Private, No. 13245, B Coy., 1st Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., 2nd _s._ of John Henry Coard, Postman, Raheney, co. Dublin, by his wife, Annie, dau. of the late Henry Moore, of Dundrum, Dublin; _b._ Raheney, co. Dublin, 2 April, 1889; educ. Howth Road School, Clontarf; was foreman gardener to the Earl of Mar and Kellie at Alloa Park, but on the outbreak of war left and joined the Colours, 1 Sept. 1914; went to the Front in January, 1915, took part in the fighting at Neuve Chapelle and Hill 60 and the first and second Battles at Ypres, and was killed in action during the latter, near Hooge, 8 May, 1915; _unm._

=COATES, GEORGE BERNARD=, Private, No. 148, 5th Battn. 2nd Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, eldest _s._ of George Coates, of Sproatley, near Hull, Gardener; by his wife, Eleanor, dau. of W. Mason, of Hull; _b._ Wyton, Hull, East Yorkshire, 12 May, 1891; educ. Sproatley Endowed School; was for some time in the Halifax Territorials; went to Australia 6 June, 1913; joined the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne on the outbreak of war and was wounded in the left arm at the landing at Suvla Bay on 25 April, 1915. He was invalided to Malta, but returned to the firing line about the end of July, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 9–10 Aug., 1915; _unm._

=COATSWORTH, EDGAR=, Corpl., No. 8058, B. Coy., 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., 2nd _s._ of Arthur Thomas Coatsworth, of 20, Earl Street, Maidstone, a Corpl. in the National Reserve Guard; _b._ Maidstone, 5 Aug. 1887; educ. St. Faith’s Schools there; enlisted 16 Aug. 1904, and after serving seven years with the Colours, passed into the Reserve and became a postman at Marden, Kent. He was called up on the outbreak of war; was promoted Corpl. early in Jan. 1915; went to France and was killed in action at Richebourg l’Avoué, 9 May, 1915. His Coy. Sergt.-Major in a letter of sympathy to his wife said that he was killed whilst gallantly leading his men in the attack on the enemy’s trenches, and added “he was a great favourite of all the men of his platoon, who speak very highly of his conduct when under a very heavy shell fire.” He _m._ at St. Faith’s Church, Maidstone, 17 March (--), dau. of William Cummings, and had two children: Edgar, _b._ 5 July, 1912, and Marian, _b._ 21 Aug. 1913.

=COBB, ARTHUR VICTOR JUBILEE=, Signal Boy, J. 24845, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=COBB, JOHN WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 1345), 206567, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COBBETT, ALBERT=, A.B., J. 14137, Devonport, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COBBOLD, ROBERT HENRY WANKLYN=, Lieut., 6th. attd. 2nd. Battn. (The Prince Consort’s Own) Rifle Brigade, eldest _s._ of the Rev. Robert Russell Cobbold, M.A., Rector of Hitcham, Ipswich, by his wife, Mary Elizabeth, dau. of the late Frederick Wanklyn, of Buenos Aires, and gdson. of the late Rev. Robert Henry Cobbold, Rector of Ross; _b._ Earl’s Barton Vicarage, co. Northampton, 3 Dec 1892; educ. King’s College Choir School, Marlborough College (Foundation Scholar and Junior Scholar), and at St. John’s College, Cambridge (Classical Scholar). At Cambridge he took an active part in the work of the O.T.C., and on the outbreak of war was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade, 7 Nov. 1914, to date from 14 Aug. To quote the “Eagle,” vol. xxxvi, Dec. 1914: “At the beginning of the term the task was a formidable one. There was plenty of enthusiasm, but very little experience--a mass of untrained material. But in R. H. W. Cobbold A Coy. had an almost ideal O.T.C. officer. The work which he did for the month before his knee got strong enough for him to take a commission in the Rifle Brigade was absolutely invaluable. When he went the most difficult part of the task was over.” He was promoted Lieut. 19 Dec. following; went to the Front, 13 May, 1915, where he was attached to the 2nd Battn. and appointed machine gun officer, and was killed in action near Fleurbaix, 9 Sept. 1915; _unm._ Major-Gen. H. Hudson, commanding 8th Division, wrote: “Your son had done excellent work whilst serving in this division, and was a most promising officer. You have every reason to be proud of his gallantry and devotion to duty.” And Lieut.-Col. F. Nugent, commanding 2nd Rifle Brigade: “Your boy was machine gun officer to this battn., and I had a special opportunity of knowing what a splendid fellow he was. Absolutely fearless, and a really fine leader of men. His machine gunners loved him, and would have followed him anywhere. A really good machine gun officer like him is rare.” At Cambridge he rowed in his college first boat.

=COBBY, WILLIAM ARTHUR=, E.R.A., 3rd Class, 271735, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.