Pembroke Yeomanry

[Gardenerbill]

There is a very intersting article on the BBc website about 2nd Lieutenant David Louis Clemetson, a black officer who served with the Pembroke Yeomanry. According to the article the Pembroke Yeomanry were in Macedonia in 1916, but I can find no mention of them in my records or on the LLT as being in any of the divisions or brigades serving in Macedonia at the time, is this an error?

Link to article

[trajan]

Have you seen this: http://www.pembrokeyeomanry.org.uk/david-louis-clemetson/According to that, apparently in the RF in Salonika and was 'injured' and invalided home and then went to the Pembroke Y, and died on the Somme.

[Gardenerbill]

Thanks Trajan that explains why I couldn't find Pembrokes, so it is wrong as it states:

'Nevertheless, Clemetson became a 2nd lieutenant in the Pembroke Yeomanry on 27 October 1915.'

At this time only the 10th Irish division were in Macedonia including 38th Royal Fusiliers (source LLT)

[high wood]

According to his medal index card Clemetson served with the P.S. battalion of the Royal Fusiliers before commission but had no rank service overseas with them.

[wbremner]

According to his medal index card Clemetson served with the P.S. battalion of the Royal Fusiliers before commission but had no rank service overseas with them.

Actually, he was SPTS/520 in the First Sportsman's Battalion (later 23rd, Royal Fusiliers), not the Public Schools battalion. Enlisted with 1SB approx. mid-Sept.

He was a member of the 1SB Rugby team - there is a photo of him with the team in this issue of the Sportsman's Gazette:

He's mentioned in a few other SG issues as well.

[high wood]

You are right, I was speed typing.

[Gardenerbill]

I still think there is a problem here:

38th Royal Fusiliers 31st Brigade 10th (Irish division)

1915 Gallipoli and Kosturino (southern Serbia Macedonia) then the Doiran front Greek Serbian border 1916

3rd Royal Fusiliers 85th Brigade 28th Division

1915 Western front then 1916 Struma Valley (Salonika Front)

October 1916 Barakli Jum'a (Struma valley)

So which RF unit was he with if he was shell shocked in Macedonia it had to be one of these? But I have my doubts, according to 'Under the Devils Eye' the Royal Fusiliers didn't have any significant role at Kosturino or Barakli Jum'a.

[Gardenerbill]

This quote:

'On the frontline for eight months, under constant bombardment by big guns and badly traumatised by "shell-shock"'

Doesn't fit with Salonika either, bombardments were limited in Salonika and not on the scale of the western front.

My Grandfather, who was there, talked about a few shells each way in the morning and quiet for the rest of the day being typical. Obviously at major battles such as 1st Doiran full bombardments went on for several days. But first Doiran was in April 1917and the Royal Fusiliers weren't there.

[TGM]

Also remembered by the Black Cantabs exhibition:

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 October , 2018 by TGM
typo