Serjeant, 700833, William Henry Clements – Killed in Action

2/23rd London Regiment, 28 March 1918

THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE SINAI AND PALESTINE CAMPAIGN, 1915-1918. Passage of the Jordan, 21st – 23rd March 1918. A pontoon bridge across the River Jordan at El Ghoraniyeh, near Jericho, where the Turks had blown up the stone bridge. It was by the bridge that the 2/21st London Regiment crossed on 22nd March, 1918. It was constructed by a working party of the 2/17th (County of London) Battalion under the Array Bridging Train. Copyright: © IWM.(Q 12602)

Western Evening Herald

Extract from the above publication dated 27 April 1918 :-

A DUSTMAN HERO

“SINGING BILLY,” WHO REFUSED A COMMISSION.

The story of a London dustman who was offered a commission in the army as a reward for his distinguished conduct in the field has just come to light (says the “Star”) through the official announcement of its hero’s death.

When war broke out Will Clements was a dustman employed by the Lambeth Borough Council, for who he had worked fifteen years. ‘Singing Billy’ was always the first to organise a concert on his behalf and offer his services free. “One of the happiest souls, alive was Billy,” said one of his fellow-workers, “and when he was off duty you’d never have taken him for a dustman.” He was a well-known character in Lambeth and Vauxhall.

With twenty years’ Volunteer and Territorials service behind him, “Singing Billy” made a fine soldier, and saw active service in France, Salonica, and Egypt. In that last country he died a month ago. His gallant services in the field having been brought to the notice of his commanding officer, Clements was offered a commission, surely the only dustman to attain that honour. He refused it, but consented under pressure to promotion to company-sergeant-major. In that capacity he was acting with distinction when he died on active service.

England, The National Roll of the Great War, 1914-1918

An entry from the above document states:-

CLEMENTS, W.H., Sergeant, 2/23rd London Regiment

He volunteered in September 1914, and after his training was drafted to the Western Front, where he took part in several battles, including that of the Somme. In 1917 he was sent to Salonica, and fought on the Dorian Front, and in the following year was transferred to Egypt. Later he served in Palestine, and after taking part in the capture of Jerusalem and Jericho, was killed in action on March 28th, 1918. He was entitled to the General Service and Victory Medals. 21, Esher Street, Kennington, S.E. 11

2/23rd London Regiment During the Period of Williams Death

The following is from a booklet published in 1918 about the 2/23rd London Regiment in the Great War. An excerpt from the date in which William Clements was killed states:-

“Leaving Es Salt (now Jordan) on the 27 the Turkish positions on the hills round Amman village and station were attacked at one o’clock in the afternoon of 28. The enemy reinforced and counter attacked vigorously, a very large number of machine guns being employed. Fighting continued until the 30^th, when the cavalry succeeded in blowing up the railway, and on the morning of the 31^st, the purposes of the raid having been accomplished the Brigade withdrew, continuously fighting a rearguard action again a superior number of Turks, who tried hard to get round their flanks.”

It can be assumed that William Clements may have been killed in this action in what is now Jordan.

Further Information

William Henry Clements was born circa 1878 at Bermondsey, London.

William married Elizabeth Woods on 19 August 1900 at Newington, Surrey.

In 1901 he is shown as being a Marble Masons Labourer.

In 1911 he is shown as a council labourer which is presumably when he was a Refuse Collector.

He enlisted on 5 October 1914 at Clapham Junction, London with a declared age of 35 years and 10 months. He was described at the time as follows:-

Height: 5′ 5″.
Chest: 38″ with 2″ range of expansion.
He was shown as having a good physical development.

Before his enlistment at this time into the 2nd / 23rd London Regiment, he had previous military experience in the East Surrey Rifles. He also had the previous service number of 3219.

4 August 1915 – Promoted to Corporal.
25 June 1916: Embarked from Southampton to France.
26 June 1916: Disembarked at Le Havre, France.
27 October 1916: Promoted to Sergeant.
3 December 2016: Embarked from Marseilles, France.
14 December 1916: Disembarked at Salonica, Greece.
15 June 1917: Embarked from Salonica, Greece.
18 June 1917: Disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt.
8 November 1917: Appointed Acting Company Sergeant-Major.
16 March 1918: Reverted to the rank of Sergeant.

He was killed in action on 28 March 1918 most likely in the attack on Turkish forces in Amman, Jordan.

He is buried at the Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria. It may be the case that he was later concentrated in this cemetery.

The property returned to his next of kin following his death consisted of a brush, belt, Post Office Savings Book, Cards and 2 devotional books.

At some unidentified date during his career he was was found drunk on duty and reverted to the rank of Corporal.

War Memorial at Lambeth Town Hall. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: (Q 48910)

Family

William Henry Clements was born circa 1878 at Bermondsey, London. The following family information is taken from the 1901 and 1911 Census and his Pension Card.

His family is shown as follows :-

Wife: Elizabeth Caroline Woods or Clements, born 29 November 1880.
Son: William Alfred, born at 26 December 1900 at Lambeth.
Daughter: Elizabeth Jane, born 24 December 1902 at Lambeth.
Son: George Thomas, born 15 January 1911 at Lambeth.
Daughter: Rose, born 18 April 1913 at Lambeth.

Addresses

The following addresses have been ascertained for William Clements :-

1909: 6 Wynyard Terrace, Lambeth, London.
1911: 6 Wynyard Terrace, Lambeth, London.
1914: 21 Esher Street, Kennington, London.
1918: 21 Esher Street, West Kennington Lane, Lambeth, London.

Medals

William Clements was awarded the Victory and the British War Medals for his service in the Great War. His date of entry into the theatre of war in France was the 26 June 1916.

Memorials

William Henry Clements is honoured and remembered on the following memorials :-