CLEMENTS, George

George Clements lived with his parents in Heath Lane, Oldswinford, attended Oldswinford C of E School and had been a choir boy at St. Mary’s church. Before the Great War he worked for the Great Western Railway as a porter at Halesowen station. He enlisted in the Royal Marines and went to France in July 1917 with the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. In 1917 the Marines played a major role during the Third Battle of Ypres and at Cambrai. During the 1918 German Spring offensives they were again at the centre of action and helped to prevent German victory. After reinforcement they returned to the front line for the Advance to Victory which started on the 21st August. They were quickly into action on the first day but the casualties included Corporal George Clements who was killed in action on the next day. He was 21 years of age and is buried in Achiet-le-Grand Cemetery (III G 7) and commemorated on the Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.