CLOUGH, Horace Webster
| Service Number: | 611 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia , August 1892 |
| Home Town: | Eaglehawk, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Butcher |
| Died: | Natural causes, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 14 August 1959 |
| Cemetery: |
Ballarat New Cemetery and Crematorium, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 611, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 611, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Melbourne | |
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 611, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jun 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 24th Infantry Battalion, Egypt | |
| 1 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 24th Infantry Battalion, On Gallipoli | |
| 16 Feb 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Feb 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 611, 24th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line | |
| 3 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 611, 24th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 21 Aug 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, 'For conspicuous gallantry and skill in handling reconnoitring patrols on 25th February, 1917, at DINKUM HILL near WARLENCOURT when he rendered valuable reports as to the wire in front of MALT TRENCH. He later acted as guide to the attacking troops.' | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion, Belgium | |
| 18 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 22 Mar 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, Gassed. Evacuated to England. Returned to unit 1 June 1918. | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion, The Battle of Amiens | |
| 5 Oct 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 24th Infantry Battalion, Montbrehain | |
| 7 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 611, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Mar 1920: | Honoured Military Cross, Montbrehain, 'During the attack on Montbrehain, on 5th October 1918, he found that his company had become detached from the company on his right. With five men he went out under heavy machine gun fire and endeavoured to establish connection, four of his five men being killed. On his return he found that his company commander had been killed, and he took charge of the company, and by daring reconnaissances, alone whenever his company was held up, was responsible for the continued advance. He showed great courage and initiative throughout the day.' |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Jack Coyne
Horace Webster CLOUGH
Military Medal & Military Cross
Military Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and skill in handling reconnoitring patrols on 25th February, 1917, at DINKUM HILL near WARLENCOURT when he rendered valuable reports as to the wire in front of MALT TRENCH. He later acted as guide to the attacking troops.'
Military Cross
'During the attack on Montbrehain, on 5th October 1918, he found that his company had become detached from the company on his right. With five men he went out under heavy machine gun fire and endeavoured to establish connection, four of his five men being killed. On his return he found that his company commander had been killed, and he took charge of the company, and by daring reconnaissances, alone whenever his company was held up, was responsible for the continued advance. He showed great courage and initiative throughout the day.'
The Bendigo Advertiser June 30, 1915 reported
‘At the close of business on Saturday afternoon Mr. Horace W. Clough, who has been employed at the View Point Butchery, Eaglehawk, for the past seven years, was presented with
a handsome wallet by the principal and employees’. [1]
The Bendigoian newspaper provided more insight into Horace Clough:- ‘Awarded the Military Medal; nephew of Cr. J. H. Webster, of Eaglehawk. Sergeant Clough was one of the best all-round players of the California Gully and Eaglehawk Football Clubs, and the announcement that he has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery at the front should stimulate the recruiting for the Sportsmen's Unit, which is now being made in Bendigo. For distinguished work in France he was awarded the Military Medal. He received four months training at Oxford, and was promoted to 2nd-lieutenant and had only recently returned to the lines. Before enlisting he was employed for about eight years at the View Point Butchery, Eaglehawk. He was a prominent member of the Rowing Club and Eaglehawk Football Club, and while training at Oxford he won a sculling race on the River Isis.’ [2]
Horace and Edgar Clough were well known in Eaglehawk. Growing up in Market Street, they attended the local school. Their father had passed away and their mother had moved to Williamstown when they both enlisted however, they had strong Eaglehawk ties through sport and politics as their uncle was the mayor of Eaglehawk (Cr. J. H. Webster). Tragically, Edgar was killed in the major battle of Mont St Quentin on September 2. Horace would win his second bravery medal at the final battle that AIF took part in at Montbrehain a month later on the same day former Huntly resident, George Ingram would be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Horace Clough returned home in May 1919 with the rank of Lieutenant after four years of service from the cliff face of Lone Pine on Gallipoli to the final AIF battle on the Western Front. He wrote extensively to family at home and many of these were published in the three Bendigo papers throughout the years of the Great War.
[1] Bendigo Independent March 23, 1915. P.5
[2] Bendigo Advertiser June30, 1917. P.4
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