Stoker 1st Class SS/103962 George Ernest Clemson

Killed in Action on Tuesday, 22nd September 1914, age 25.
Commemorated on Panel 4 of Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, United Kingdom.

Royal Navy, H.M.S. "Cressy." (RFR/CH/B/8133).

Son of Ellen M. Peach (formerly Clemson), of Lyneham, Kingham, Oxon, and the late Thomas Clemson.
Born: Idbury, Oxfordshire, Enlisted: Unknown, Resident: Tipton.

First served in 1914.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Navy Papers transcribed.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because his death was reported in the Tipton Herald.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3048715/

Genealogical Data

George Clemson was born on 26th August 1888 near Chipping Norton.

1891 Census
Shorthampton Village, Oxfordshire.
Thomas T. Clemson (29, Agricultural Labourer, born Marcham, Bucks), his wife Ellen M. (29, born Marcham, Bucks), and their 4 children: William (7, born Bould, Oxon), Henry (5, born Bould, Oxon), Frank (4, born Idbury), and George (2, born Idbury).

1901 Census
Shorthampton, Oxfordshire. Next to All Saints Church. (Shorthampton is bounded to the north by the sweep of the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway.)
Thomas T. Clemson (39, Carter on Farm, born Marcham, Bucks), his wife Ellen M. (39, born Marcham, Bucks), and their 6 children: Henry R. (15, Plough Boy, born Bould, Oxon), Frank T. (13, Plough Boy, born Idbury), George E. (12, House Boy / Domestic, born Idbury), Lucy E. (9, born Shorthampton), Albert E. (5, born Shorthampton), and Ernest A. (2, born Shorthampton).

1911 Census
Duke of Connaught's Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, 6 Eccleston Street, London.
George Clemson, Boarder, age 22, single, a Stoker with the Royal Navy, born Idbury, Oxon.

Personal Data

George's brother, Private Albert Clemson M.M., also lost his life in the war. He died of wounds on 25th August 1918 whilst serving with the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry.

George Clemson enlisted in the Royal Navy on 18th October 1906 for a Short Service engagement of 5 years as a Stoker. Before joining-up, he had been a Farm Labourer. He was 5 feet 4½ inches tall with a 37-inch chest, brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. He had a scar on the back of his left hand.

During his 5 years in the Navy, George served on numerous ships including Acheron, Bachante and Indomitable, rising from Stoker Class II to Stoker Class I. His character was normally assessed as ‘Very Good’ (95% were rated as such), except in October 1910 when it slipped to ‘Fair’, reverting to ‘Very Good’ in October 1911.

In October 1911 he was discharged from the Royal Navy having completed his 5 years, however, he transferred to the Royal Fleet Reserve. He resumed a civilian life, and in 1914 had been employed as a Porter at Dudley Port station for some time. Each year he would spend one week training with the Royal Navy, and being eligible for recall if required.

The Royal Navy was on a major exercise involving Reservists in late July 1914. This involved George who was serving on Pembroke II (shore barracks at Chatham) from the 25th July, until posted to HMS Cressy as Stoker Class I on 29th July. When international tensions rose, the First Lord of the Admiralty (Winston Churchill) decided to not disperse the Reservists, and so the Fleet was fully manned on 4th August.

HMS Cressy paid a minor part in the success at the Battle of Heliogland Bight on 24th August. The Tipton Herald (see below) reports that George was slightly wounded at Heliogland, but after a short period of leave returned to HMS Cressy. There is nothing in his Navy records to say he served on any other ship than Cressy in 1914.

George’s pension details are a little complex, there were two elements.
Firstly, his mother received a Dependant’s Penions of 4/6d (4 shillings and 6 pence) per week from 12th June 1919, rising to 5/0d in July 1919. This was in respect of both her son George, and also her son Albert who lost his life serving with the Ox & Bucks Light Infantry. Her pension ceased on her marriage to Ernest Peach in 1919, but was compensated by a lump-sum payment of £7/10/8d (7 pounds, ten shillings and 8 pence).
Secondly, Miss Minnie Thornett received an Allowance of 5/0d (5 shillings) per week in respect of her son James Alfred Thornett born in 1913. As she was unmarried, then she would not receive any pension for herself. An Affiliation Order was in place meaning that George Clemson was recognised as the father of James, and must help support the child. This allowance would continue until the child’s 16th birthday.

As an employee of the London & North West Railways, George's name is included on their Roll of Honour commemorating their 3,726 employees who lost their lives in the Great War.

Action resulting in his death

On 22nd September 1914, the elderly armoured cruisers HMS Aboukir, HMS Cressy and HMS Hogue were patrolling 20 miles off the Dutch coast with no easily discernible purpose. Between 6am and 8am, they were torpedoed and sunk in turn by U Boat U-9 with the loss of 1,459 lives. Commander Weddigern of the U Boat U-9 was awarded the coveted Pour le Merite.

George Clemson was lost at sea on H.M.S. Cressy, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial. Another Tipton man,Thomas Fereday, was lost on H.M.S. Hogue.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 3rd October 1914
DUDLEY PORT MAN MISSING.
Information has reached Dudley Port that among those to go down with the Cressy was Porter Clemson, who had been employed at the Dudley Port station (London & North West Railway Co.) for some time. At the outbreak of war he was called up, and took part in the engagements off Heligoland. He was slightly wounded and conveyed to port, but after a few days leave he was drafted to H.M.S. Cressy. He was enabled to visit his sweetheart at Dudley Port before embarking.
The brave seaman belonged to Oxford. During the time he had been at Dudley Port, he was respected by all for his courtesy and general conduct.