Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Frank Mahieu's Brothers who died in the Great War

Cpl Harold George and LCpl Vivian John Clements K.I.A., 19th July 1916 (Fromelles, France)

Remembering Cpl Harold George Clements, aged 23, and his brother Lance Corporal Vivian John Clements, aged 26, who were killed on 19 July 1916 in the attack or battle of Fromelles. Both brothers, when they died, were serving with 59th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (15th Bgd, 5th Div.) They were the sons of Thomas and M. J. Clements and residing at Auburn (Melbourne) in 1915, later (1) living at Glen Huntly (Melbourne) Both brothers were born in Healesville, county of Evelyn, Victoria, Australia, Harold in May 1890, Vivian in October 1893. The family later moved to Wood’s Point where they had schooling and where Harold became a junior teacher. Before enlisting both served with the Bairnsdale Rifle Club at Bairnsdale where the family had moved to, Harold 8 years as captain and Vivian 6 years. Harold was a school teacher and was appointed in charge of Kalimna School in 1912, while Vivian was a linesman.

Harold and Vivian together enlisted with the AIF on 24 July 1915 at Melbourne. Harold with 23rd battalion, 10th Reinforcement, Vivian with 22nd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement.
Harold, 25 at the time, was 5 foot 6 ½ inch. tall (1m.69). He had a sallow complexion, brown eyes and black hair. Vivan, 22 and 10 months, was 5 foot 8 1/2 inch. tall (1m.74), had a medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.
They embarked at Melbourne on 7 March 1916 with HMAT Wiltshire for Egypt.

In Egypt, from 6th Training Battalion Harold was taken on strength with 59th Battalion on 20 April 1916 at Duntroon Plateau (2). He was promoted Corporal on 9 May 1916 at Hog’s Back (2).
Vivian was sent to 57th Battalion at Zeitoun (Tel El Kebir camp, Egypt) on 23 Febr. 1916, and als there transferred to 59th Battalion on 15 march 1916. Being sick at Duntroon Plateau (1) he was in hospital on 28 April 1916 till 30 April.

They sailed from Alexandria on 18 June 1916 with ‘Kinfauns Castle’ to the Western front arriving in Marseille, France on 29 June 1916. VIVIAN was appointed Lance Corporal on 3 July 1916, so shortly before they went into battle. Once in France, they proceded to the front line in the North of the country to Fromelles.
The Fromelles Battle was the first baptism of fire on the Western Front for the Australians. The joint British-Australian attack, beginning in the evening of the 19th of July became a disaster. From the High Command message had arrived the attack was not mandatory and could be cancelled if necessary. Local command though decided to proceed. The Germans had as good as full view of what was deploying at the enemy side and knew an attack was to come, they were well prepared. As for the Australians:

The 5th Australian Division suffered 5,513 casualties, 2,000 men in the 8th Australian Brigade, 1,776 men of the 15th Australian Brigade, 1,717 men in the 14th Australian Brigade and 88 men from the divisional engineers; two battalions had so many casualties that they had to be rebuilt. Of 887 personnel from the 60th Australian Battalion, only one officer and 106 other ranks survived unwounded and the 32nd Australian Battalion suffered 718 casualties. The 31st Australian Battalion had 544 casualties and the 32nd Australian Battalion lost 718 men killed and wounded. The British 61st (2nd South Midland) Division engaged only half the men as the 5th Australian Division and suffered 1,547 casualties.

At the Fromelles battle, Harold went missing and was presumed missing having been buried in no man's land (coordinates mentioned in his record). Vivian at first also was reported missing in no man's land, but his body was found and he lies in Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery near Fleurbaix while Harold is commemorated at VC Corner Memorial at Fromelles. LEST WE FORGET.

Cpl. Harold G. Clements is commemorated at home at the Healesville War Memorial (don’t know about Vivian) and also on the Honour Board of the Kalimna State School where he was a teacher.

LEST WE FORGET.

(1) Letter in Service record Harold in 1925
(2) Australian post in the Sinai Desert, Egypt, also near Tel El Kebir cam

Harold G. Clements, son of Mr. Thomas Clements, of 18 Fletcher-street, Auburn, commenced teaching as a junior teacher at Wood's Point, and was transferred from there to Berringa, where he finished his course. He was then sent to the Struan Dam School as a relieving teacher. He was appointed from there to the charge of the Kalinmna School, and remained nearly three years; he enlisted from there.

He was always keenly interested in rifle shooting and was a good rifle shot; well known in the Ballarat and Sale Unions, and had been secretary of the Berringa Club while there. He was captain of the Bairnsdale Club when he enlisted on the 24th of July, 1915.

He embarked with the 10th Reinforcements to the 23rd Battalion. While in Egypt, he was transferred to the 59th Battalion on the 20th of April, 1916. He was promoted Corporal on the 9th of May, and he proceeded with his unit to France on the 29th of June. He was killed in action, on the 19th of July, at Fleurbaix.

Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.