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7992 Special Reserve attached to 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Reginald Clement Francis known as Clement was born around 1892 in Bradfield, Essex, one of seven children of Benjamin and Mary Francis. His father was a groom and gardener when the family was still living in Bradfield. He was later employed as a mail driver by the time the family had moved to Church Street in Clare.
By 1911 Clement like his father was employed as a mail driver. He enlisted in Clare and he served in France on 30 August 1914. The 2nd Battalion was part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF); 80,000 troops hastily assembled from serving soldiers and reservists to help strengthen the French defences as the Kaiser’s army marched into Belgium. The battalion fought a heroic rearguard action at Le Cateau (26 August – 1 September 1914) refusing to surrender until they were finally overwhelmed. Most of those still alive were taken prisoner; it is probable that Clement was sent as a replacement. He would have served alongside other Sudbury men including Harry Barber and Frederick Felton at this time.
In October 1914 the battalion formed part of 8th Brigade, 3rd Division and saw action at the Battles of the Marne (7 – 14 September), Aisne (12 – 15 September) and La Bassee and Messines (10 October – 2 November) a phase of The First Battle of Ypres (19 – 22 November 1914) where the Allies fought to prevent the enemy reaching the sea and gaining control of the coastal ports. This resulted in both armies became entrenched around the Ypres Salient for the next four years.
Clement was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The announcement of his award appeared in the London Gazette Supplement on 18 February 1915. The citation, which appeared in the 1 April 1915 edition, reads ‘for conspicuous gallantry on 15 December 1914 near Kemmel in voluntarily taking a message over very dangerous ground. His destination was 150yds in front and he was killed after covering 80yds of this distance’.
Clement was killed in action on 16 December 1914 aged 22. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Menin Gate in April 2006, April 2009 and October 2012.
He was also awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal. The clasp "5TH AUG - 22ND NOV 1914" was awarded with the 1914 Star for any soldier who came under enemy fire or within range of enemy mobile artillery in France or Belgium between those dates. This was to differentiate between those who were also serving in France or Belgium but behind the lines.
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