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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 647

Writing to Mr Clement, an officer states that the enemy dropped a large shell close to the trench in which Gunner Clement with other two gunner [SIC] was living. The sides of the trench were blown in, and by the time the rescue party had cleared the trench, Clement was beyond human assistance. A doctor, who was present at the time, gave an assurance that Gunner Clement was killed instantaneously.'

(A Dunfermline newspaper refers)

Three: Gunner A. M. Clement, 1st/1st Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Territorial Force), who was killed in action on 24 May 1917

1914-15 Star (658 Gnr. A. M. Clement, R.G.A.); British War and Victory Medals (306065 Gnr. A. M. Clement. R.A.), good very fine (3)

Alexander Marnie Clement was born at Dunfermline, Scotland in 1897, the son of David and Louisa Clement of 51 Priory Lane, Dunfermline. Employed as a Joiner prior to the Great War of the Great War Clement entered the conflict in France on 4 May 1915 with the 1st/1st Highland (Fifeshire) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He served in France with this unit for some time, before being killed in action when a shell collapsed the trench he was sheltering in. An article in a Dunfermline newspaper quoted a letter from his commanding officer stating:

'It is particularly sad. "the officer adds "to lose a man such as your son was, especially as he had been with us since we came overseas"'

The news must have come as a truly bitter blow as the recipient's brother was killed earlier in the month and the news arrived around the same time. Clement is buried at Henin Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais; sold together with copied research including Commonwealth War Graves certificate, Soldiers Died in the Great War entry, census data and newspaper extracts as well as information relating to the recipient's brother Private William Clement, Cameron Highlanders.

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Sold for
£85

Starting price
£80