Clement Percival Withers
Clemmie was the son of Catherine and George Withers. He was the tenth of their twelve children and, as far as I know, the only relative I have who died during World War I
Clemmie was born on 15 May 1898 in or near Goulburn. I'm not sure exactly where his parents were living at the time however I do know that in 1884 they were living at a property outside Goulburn called Currabungla. By 1905 when their youngest child, Catherine, my grandmother, was born, the family was living in Auburn Street in Goulburn.
Clemmie went to school at the Sacred Heart Convent in North Goulburn where he must have been a reasonable student because he received a book prize for "First Place in First Class" on 16 December 1909, when he was 11.
Clemmie was born on 15 May 1898 in or near Goulburn. I'm not sure exactly where his parents were living at the time however I do know that in 1884 they were living at a property outside Goulburn called Currabungla. By 1905 when their youngest child, Catherine, my grandmother, was born, the family was living in Auburn Street in Goulburn.
Clemmie went to school at the Sacred Heart Convent in North Goulburn where he must have been a reasonable student because he received a book prize for "First Place in First Class" on 16 December 1909, when he was 11.
Military Service and Death
On 25 January 1916, Clemmie was living with his family in Grafton Street in Goulburn and working as a labourer when he enlisted in the Australian Defence Forces (ADF). He was 17 years old.
Clemmie enlisted with his younger brother, Frank, and the two enlisted against their mother's wishes. When she protested that they were under-age, they told her that they would just go and enlist in another town where no-one knew them and lie about their ages. So their mother reluctantly agreed to them enlisting and instructed Clemmie to look after his younger brother.
On 23 June 1916, Clemmie embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Barambah. He was Private 1980 of the 35th Battalion in the Australian Infantry.
Clemmie died on 23 July 1917 near Messines in Belgium. The 35th Battalion's War Diary mentions only that twelve men died that day (see the final entry on this page):
Clemmie enlisted with his younger brother, Frank, and the two enlisted against their mother's wishes. When she protested that they were under-age, they told her that they would just go and enlist in another town where no-one knew them and lie about their ages. So their mother reluctantly agreed to them enlisting and instructed Clemmie to look after his younger brother.
On 23 June 1916, Clemmie embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Barambah. He was Private 1980 of the 35th Battalion in the Australian Infantry.
Clemmie died on 23 July 1917 near Messines in Belgium. The 35th Battalion's War Diary mentions only that twelve men died that day (see the final entry on this page):
"23/24/7/17 2am Relieved by 33rd Bn A.I.F. and 35th Bn move back to close support position. Casualties during tour in front line 45 including 12 killed."
One of the twelve was Clemmie.
Clemmie is buried in a small cemetery in Belgium called Bethleem Farm West Cemetery. I visited the cemetery with my family in February 2013. As far as I know, we are the only family members to have visited Clemmie's grave.
Clemmie's service record is here: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8855757
One of the twelve was Clemmie.
Clemmie is buried in a small cemetery in Belgium called Bethleem Farm West Cemetery. I visited the cemetery with my family in February 2013. As far as I know, we are the only family members to have visited Clemmie's grave.
Clemmie's service record is here: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8855757