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War Memorial
Australia

Clem was born in Yorketown, a farming community on the southern tip of the Yorke Peninsula of SA. He was one of six children of Edwin Phillip and Olive Ethel Schulz, having his birthday on the 29th November, 1919. His siblings were Max, Colin, Walter, Dorothy and Gerald. All the children attended the local school where a broad range of subjects, including woodwork were taught. The headmaster proclaiming the benefits as being ‘the boy is given a mass of knowledge of tools, their handling, sharpening and general upkeep; a knowledge of the most common types of timber trees, their habitats and the uses to which they may be put. All of which is valuable, and may be used in the world when he has left school.’ Clem’s name appeared in the Honour List for Arithmetic in Grade IV and his siblings also regularly had their names published for their achievements.
Prior to the outbreak of WWII, Clem’s older brother, Colin was already serving with the Militia but both decided to enlisted on the 22nd June, 1940. The Yorketown community were proud of these young men, with the local newspaper, the Pioneer including the brothers in their publication of July ’40: ‘For King and Empire - Colin Edward Schulz and Clem Harold Schulz, sons of Mr, and Mrs. Phil. Schulz, of Yorketown, have both enlisted for service overseas.’ Once in Adelaide, Colin was allocated the number SX7590 and Clem SX7732. Both were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. (Colin was to become a Corporal and survived the war.)
The brothers spent their initial days in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before they headed to Woodside for their preliminary training. Pre-embarkation leave gave then time to return to Yorketown where they were farewelled with Alfred Domaschenz (SX7836) at the Southern Yorke Peninsula Digger’s Club where a social was held in their honour in October.
Returning to the 2/48th the contingent then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 (just prior to Clem’s 21st birthday). There the recruits completing a few months training in Cyrenaica. From there, the trio were soon on their way to serve in Tobruk, Syria and Egypt. By the start of April 1941, the 2/48th were in Tobruk where the dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment were quite a challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Conditions were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. October ’42 was to be one of the most devastating times for the Battalion. Just a month prior to his birthday, Clem was killed in action during the horrific fighting that erupted over the 25th and 26th October, 1942. Mongomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward. The subsequent action between October 25th and 26th 1942 meant that the survivors of an horrific explosion and ensuing fighting were not always able to immediately retrieve their fallen men. 22-year-old Clem was killed under these conditions.
John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ describes the carnage caused by the chance hit by an enemy shell on a truck loaded with mines.
‘An ear shattering explosion dwarfed the sound of the guns into insignificance. Seven other trucks, all ladened with mines, had been set off. The whole area became a ghastly raging inferno. As trucks burned and exploded a great wall of fire shot into the sky. The gun flashes seemed dimmed; night was turned into day. The concussion was terrific. Steve Fitzgerald who was bringing up the mortar truck, which was laden with bombs, was seventy or so yards behind the trucks when the first one went off. His vehicle rocked in the blast, and, blinded by the flash, he was thrown clear out of it and onto the ground. Russ Lucas and Doug Richardson, who were manning a wireless set in a nearby trench, were temporarily stunned, but by gallant effort they got one man out of the trucks. He died in their arms. Parts of their wireless set were never found; the batteries were picked up two hundred yards away. Two thousand mines went up in this explosion; all the war equipment of both B and D Companies was destroyed. Of the ten men who were in the vehicles, not one was saved. They were: Corporal R. Bryant, W.D. Cockshell, W.C. Quinn, J.J. Buckley, H.S. Searle, W.A. Craig, C. Fraser, C.H. Schulz, C.E. Dolling and E. Parkyn.’
He added:
‘The attack continued, however, without pause…it was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. The troops had never been more tired.. The 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest; from first light until nine o’clock the enemy turned all their fury on the Trig area, with particularly heavy fire on 29 itself, hiding the position in a cloud of dust and smoke.’ The Battalion sustained heavy casualties but in the ensuing days brought in their comrades who had been killed in action.

Back home, Clem was initially reported as being ‘seriously wounded’ before his death was reported in the Chronicle in December included a list of the other men, predominantly from the 2/48th Battalion, killed in action. They included SX7832 Pte. Max C. Boase. 2/48th Millicent; SX6896 Pte. Lance Chapman, 2/48th, North Moonta; SX5226 Pte. Charlie L. K. Cock, 2/43rd Solomontown; SX7260 Sgt. Charles Fraser. 2/48th Norwood; SX10466 Pte. E. L Freeman, 2/43rd, Calca; SX8651 Sgt. Lindsay R. Goode, 2/48th Malvern; SX13580 Pte. Ronald A. Grist. Inf., Port Noarlunga; SX8587 Pte. George W. Haywood, 2/48th Mount Compass: SX7249 Cpl. J. Hinson, 2/43rd ., Plympton: SX310 Sgt. Alfred W G. Miller, 2/48th Ponde; SX9488 Pte. Eric L. Montgomerie, 2/48th., Edwardstown; SX7375 Sgt Charles E. Plummer, 2/48th College Park; SX7176 A-Cpl. William C. Quinn, 2/48th Bordertown; SX8113 Pte. Michael N. Riley, 2/48th Burnside; SX7298 Cpl. Harold Sandercock, 2/48th Maitland; SX7732 Ste. Clem H. Schulz, 2/48th Yorketown; SX12924 Pte. Richard Speck, 48th Blanchetown; SX849J Pte. Arthur G. Wilson, 2/48th Glanville.
The local Pioneer reported on 20th November that ‘Mr and Mrs E. P. Schulz, of Yorketown, have been advised that their son, Dvr. Clem H. ('Father') Schulz was killed in action in Egypt on Oct. 25th. Dvr. Schulz was 22 years of age. He enlisted in July 1940, and left Australia on Nov. 18 1940.’ The Advertiser also published additional information ‘Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Schulz. of Yorketown have been advised that their son. Driver Clem H. Schulz, 32, was killed in action on October 25 in North Africa. His brother, Cpl. Colin E. E. (Jim) Schulz was reported wounded in action and placed on the dangerously ill list on November 5. A later cable from Cpl. Schulz says. "Injured and in hospital. Injury not serious."
Clem was initially buried in the field with those who were killed with him before later being re-buried on the 25th January ’43 then on the 27th March 1945 in the El Alamein Cemetery, his final resting place, Plot XXII, Row F Grave 12. His parents chose the inscription of ‘His duty nobly done’ for his headstone. Clem now rests with others from his Battalion, Privates E Parkyn SX7506, Corporal William Quinn SX7176 and Private A Hill WX9822.
His close-knit family and extended family continued to remember Clem.
Pioneer Friday 22 October 1943, 'For King and Empire' SCHULZ—In fond memory of our dear son and brother, Clem. who gave his life for his country, North Africa Oct. 25th 1942. In our home there's a beautiful treasure, to us more precious than gold; It's the photo of our dear son and brother whose memory so dear we hold. —Inserted by his parents, brother Colin (AIF ret.) Wally, Dot, Gerald. SCHULZ—In loving remembrance of our darling brother, Clem, killed in action North Africa, October 25th 1942. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him. —Ever remembered by his brother Max, and sister-in-law Muriel. SCHULZ—In fond memory of our dear cousin, Clem, killed in action at El Alamein Oct. 25th, 1942. He sleeps in a soldier’s grave, honored with Australia's brave. — Always remembered by his loving cousins, Phyllis, Ken, Doll, Pat ( AIF). Marj and Tom. SCHULZ—A loving tribute to our dear nephew. Clem. killed in action at El Alamein. Oct. 25ih, 194J, A smiling face, a heart of gold, One of the best the world could hold —Always remembered by Uncle Wal and Auntie May.
Pioneer, Friday 29 October 1943, 'For King and Empire’ SCHULZ — In fond memory of our dear nephew and cousin. Clem, killed at El Alamein, Oct. 25th, 1942. Resting in a soldier's grave Your memory honored with the brave — Always remembered by Uncle Alf, Auntie Ada, Gert, Syd (RAAF), Roma, Doug (AIF ret.), Jean.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes, SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.