Name
Charles Henry Clements
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/01/1919
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
353339
Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
16th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
AMERSFOORT GENERAL CEMETERY
Plot E1.
Netherlands
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth, Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford, Not on the High Wych memorials
Pre War
Charles was born on the 11th March 1899, in 'Rook End', High Wych near Sawbridgeworth, Herts., the son of John and Eliza Clements and was baptised on the 7th May 1899, in Sawbridgeworth. He was one of three children. In baptismal records, he is known as Henry Charles Clements.
The 1901 Census records Charles as aged 3, living with his parents, brother William and sister Rebecca, in Rook End, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. By 1911 they had moved to Sayesfield Common, High Wych, Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
Charles was resident in Sawbridgeworth when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
He was formerly 5115 in the Hertfordshire Regiment which indicates that joined the Regiment between 2nd June 1915 and 1st July 1915. probably very close the first date. He would have been 16. It is unlikely that he saw much of the war because 'officially' overseas could not be undertaken until a man was 19.
At some point he was transferred to the 16th Battalion Royal Scots, probably when he commenced active service. This Battalion was disbanded in France on 14th August 1918. Charles must joined them before then. He would have then transferred to either the 11th or 12th Battalion, as it was these two that went on to see service in Germany in 1919. He was then part of the Allied occupying force after the Armistice. He died in Cologne, Germany on 3-4 January 1919. He presumably died through accident or illness. He was then aged 19.
It is not clear why he is buried in the Netherlands
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Stuart Osborne, Douglas Coe
