Name
Clement William Waite
31 Dec 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/01/1919
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
East Yorkshire Regiment
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
D S O
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRIDLINGTON CEMETERY
E. 7.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Potters Bar memorials
Pre War
Clement William Waite was born on 31 Dec 1891 in Blofield, Norfolk to George Henry Waite, a draper, and Isabella (nee Bartindale). The family of Parents and Joice Bartlindale (mother in law) were living at 16 Connaught Road, Norwich.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Clement, George Norman (born 1893) and Daisy Joice (born 1895) were living at 57, St Leonards Road, Norwich.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents and Daisy were living at Ravensthorpe Station Road, Hessle, Kingston upon Hull. Clement was a draper’s apprentice living at 40 & 40a High Road, Kilburn, Hampstead, London along with other Drapers staff.
Clement married Vera Cynthia Clarke of Sculcoates, Hull at St Mary’s Sculcoates on 10 Jan 1918.
Wartime Service
Clement volunteered on 1 Sep 1914 Private 100 10th (Service) Battalion (1st Hull) more commonly known as Hull Commercials, East Yorkshire Regiment. Following his training he went Egypt with his Battalion in Dec 1915 For a short spell as the Battalion was directed to France via Marseille in Mar 1915. The 10th Battalion was part of 92 Brigade, 31 Division together with other Hull Battalions 11th, 12th & 13th. Clement was commissioned in Feb 1915 from the Ranks as Second Lieutenant in the 13th (Service) Battalion (4th Hull) known as T’others.
In 1916 31 Division were involved in the Battle Albert on 1 Jul at Serre, along with many other Pals Battalion. Later in that year were engaged in the Battle of Ancre (13-18 Nov 1916).
Clement was promoted to Captain and posted to 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Hull), He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1917 the Division were engaged in the Battle of Arras.
After his marriage in Jan 1918 while on Leave he returned to the Regiment and took part in the Battles of St Quentin (21-23 March), Bapaume (24=25 Mar), Arras (28 Mar) during the German Spring Offensive and was reported Missing later a Prisoner of War. Clement was awarded Distinguished Service Order in the King’s Honours, 3 Jun 1918, also Mentioned in Despatches. He arrived home on 25 Dec 1918 after repatriation from Rastatt and Stralsund in Germany. He and his wife took a holiday in Bournemouth, but his Body was found in the River Yare in Norwich on 30 Jan 1919, He had been missing for 5 weeks. His death was reported as suicide following from his war experiences (blown up, suffered Trench Fever, Influenza twice and a Prisoner of War.) in a letter to his wife he expressed his guilt at being a survivor when so many in his Brigade had died.
Clement received a full Military Funeral at St Mary's Sculcoates.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and Arrears of £258 16s 1d was paid to his widow, she also received probate of £780. There was a son born 13 Sep 1919, Clement Humphrey Waite. Vera moved to Red Tiles, the Avenue, Potters Bar and in 1923 married Ernest D Kingsley.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
