Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War C.M.G., D.S.O. and Bar group of eight awarded to Brigadier-General W. F. Clemson, York & Lancaster Regiment - of which he was Colonel-in-Chief 1932-36: having commanded the 2nd Battalion with distinction in 1915, and won his first D.S.O., he was appointed a Brigade Commander, in which capacity he clearly led from the front, being wounded on the Somme in June 1916 and winning his second D.S.O. for further acts of gallantry at Passchendaele in September 1917

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, in its Garrard & Co. case of issue; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., with Bar for Second Award, silver-gilt and enamels; 1914 Star, with clasp (Major, York & Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Brig. Gen.); Jubilee 1935; Italian Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels; French Croix de Guerre 1914-1916, with palm, mounted as worn, enamel work slightly chipped in places, otherwise good very fine (8) £3500-4000

C.M.G. London Gazette 4 June 1917.

D.S.O. London Gazette 23 June 1915: ‘For distinguished services in the Field.’

Bar to D.S.O. London Gazette 22 March 1918: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his brigade appeared likely to be held up in an attack owing to hostile machine-gun fire, he proceeded to the front of the attack, and, rallying the leading troops, he led them successfully to their objectives. By his personal example and contempt of danger he instilled new energy into the attack during a very critical period.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 22 June 1915; 1 January 1916; 4 January 1917; 15 May 1917 and 11 December 1917.

Italian Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus London Gazette 12 September 1918.

French Croix de Guerre London Gazette 1 May 1917.

William Fletcher Clemson, who was born at Farnworth, Lancashire in March 1866, was commissioned in the 1st Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment, in November 1887, direct from the 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. Advanced to Lieutenant in February 1890, and to Captain in May 1899, he served in the East Indies from October of the latter year until December 1902, and as Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion from 1900-1904. Back home, he commanded the Guard of Honour for the handing over of the 1st Battalion’s Colours at York Minster in June 1906, and was promoted to Major in October of the same year.

Following the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, Clemson was embarked for France as Second-in-Command of the 2nd Battalion on the 9th, but succeeded to overall command in January 1915, by which stage he and his men were occupying ‘indifferent trenches’ in front of Armentieres - in the interim they had taken part in the attack at Radinghem (13 killed, 97 wounded and 27 missing) and repulsed with the bayonet a strong enemy attack on 23 October. Early in the New Year the Battalion was ordered into the Ypres Salient and no doubt Clemson’s subsequent award of the D.S.O. reflected gallant and distinguished service in the same sector. Confirmed in the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in April 1915, he went on to lead his Battalion in the fighting at Hooge that August, when it sustained a further 300 casualties.

Clemson returned to the U.K. in September 1915, was advanced to Brigadier-General, and took command of 124 Infantry Brigade, 41st Corps, back out in France, in May 1916, in readiness for the Somme offensive. And it was here, on 9 June, in an attack on Flers, that he was wounded by machine-gun fire, command of the Brigade falling to Lieutenant-Colonel the Earl of Faversham. He refused, however, to be evacuated home, and rejoined his men about two weeks later. He was duly commended by the G.O.C., 41st Corps, in the following terms:

‘For your conspicuous gallantry and ability in visiting the front line after it had become disorganised through the capture of Flers and in reorganizing units and personally directing the situation.’

As it transpired - for Clemson clearly preferred encouraging his men from the front - he was once more the recipient of a commendation from the G.O.C. 41st Division for his bravery at Passchendaele, this time having gone forward in the face of heavy fire from the enemy’s concrete machine-gun emplacements:

‘For gallantry on 20 September 1917. Receiving information that the attack of your Brigade was in difficulties, you went forward among the attacking troops, rallied them and inspired them with renewed energy. Your presence, coolness and courage urged the troops on, and restored confidence which enabled the attack to proceed.’

He was awarded a Bar to his D.S.O. and, in November 1917, took 124 Infantry Brigade to Italy, in which theatre of war his men were actively employed until returning to France in March 1918. Finally, in June of the same year, Clemson was appointed Inspector of Infantry back in the U.K.

Appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the York & Lancaster Regiment 1932, the General retired to Norfolk, where he was onetime Captain of the Royal Cromer Golf Club, and died in December 1946.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation, including the recipient’s D.S.O. warrant, and a copy of the Order’s statues, the former dated 3 June 1915; his M.I.D. certificates (5), dated 31 May 1915 (as Major, York & Lancaster Regiment); 30 November 1915 (as Lieutenant-Colonel (Temporary Brigadier-General), D.S.O., York & Lancaster Regiment), 13 November 1916 (as before), 9 April 1917 (as before), and 7 November 1917 (as before but with ‘C.M.G.’ added to his honours); G.O.C. 41st Division commendation cards (3), signed, with handwritten citations for his gallantry at Flers on the Somme, for similar deeds at Passchendaele in September 1917, and for general devotion to duty and leadership of 124 Brigade (see quoted passages above); warrants for his appointments to the Italian Order of St. Maurice & St. Lazarus, one dated April 1918, and the other December 1921; his commission warrant for the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, dated 9 November 1887; a ticket of admittance for the installation of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales as Grand Master of the Order, at St. Paul’s, dated 2 June 1919; a certificate for life membership of the British Legion, dated 11 March 1922; his Jubilee 1935 Medal certificate; and a studio portrait photograph, this glazed and framed.