Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Francis Carey Clements who died of wounds on 11th January 1917 was the son of Mr. F W and Louisa Clements. He was born in England in October 1892 and came to Australia when only seven years old. He entered the School in 1905 and left in 1910 for the University, taking the Electrical Engineering Course. While there he won his half-blue in boxing. In order to complete his engineering training he went to England in 1914 and was entered as a student at the British Thomson-Houston Co. of Rugby. As soon as war broke out he volunteered, and received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Signalling Branch, Royal Engineers. He was wounded on 6th January 1917, in the right temple by a fragment of a gas shell at Arras, and died five days later. His Commanding Officer writes; "I should like you to know how much we all - and I especially as his CO - always appreciated the splendidly thorough and conscientious way in which he always carried out his duties, however arduous or dangerous, and how much we learned to respect him for his sterling character and manliness. He was a real 'white man' and always set an example which many a young officer would do well to follow." Letters from his men were equally appreciative and touching.

War Services Old Melburnians 1914 - 1918