CLOWES W D

William Dexter Clowes died on Monday 4 November 1918, aged 24 years, and was buried at SEBOURG BRITISH CEMETERY, Nord, France.

There was fierce fighting in the area on the 'gloriously clear' day of Monday 4th November. In his book, 'The Great War, The Standard History of the All - Europe Conflict', which consists of 13 volumes, H.W. Wilson describes the battle as follows;

'The Germans had fallen back after their defeat on November 2nd, (at Valenciennes), to the line of the Aunelle River, five miles from the city. The English & Scottish troops forced the stream, & won the high ground beyond where the German commander tried to check them by a counter-attack on the hamlet of Sebourg. There was, however, little force behind this last attempt at holding an elastic front...The British line was pressed back slightly on the high ground above the stream...'

William didn't survive this penultimate battle, which was part of the 'Battle of the Sambre'. The 9th were only involved in one further battle of the Great War, the 'Passage of the Grand Honelle' 5th-7th November, 4 days later the Armistice came into force.

William was born c1894 at Shirland, Derbyshire to parents Arthur & Fanny Clowes. Arthur Clowes was a Coal Miner, and a native of Birmingham, while his wife Fanny was originally from Holbeach, Lincs.

Arthur & Fanny Clowes never recovered from the loss of their son, so close to the end of the war. The matter of William's death was hardly spoke of, such was the shock, there was no family inscription on his head stone in Sebourg.

William Dexter Clowes was awarded the
Military Medal in January 1918

The reverse of the medal states ~

"For bravery in the field"

From 'British Gallantry Awards - the Sherwood Foresters', compiled by C. Housley

CLOWES William Dexter: Private 20045: 9th Battalion: London Gazette 28.1.1918, For conspicuous gallantry on 4th October 1917, when in the attack on the German lines (Phesant Farm) near Poelcappelle, France. (Killed in action 4.11.1918).

From ‘Soldiers who died in the Great War 1914-19 – Part 49 The Sherwood Foresters’

WILLIAM DEXTER CLOWES. Born Shirland DBY - Enlisted Sutton-in-Ashfield, 9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.). Private 20045, Killed in Action, France & Flanders, 4th Nov 1918, MM.

Research by Heather Faulkes and Helen Wilson
Further information, and photograph of Gravestone in Sebourg British Cemetery, kindly provided by Allison Palmer, Great-Great Neice of William Clowes.