Sgt John Gwellan Clent 7 Dragoon Guards d.9/1/15

[Will O'Brien]

As per CWGC

Name: CLENT, JOHN GWELLAN

Initials: J G

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Serjeant

Regiment: 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's)

Age: 40

Date of Death: 09/01/1915

Service No: 4674

Additional information: Native of Isle of Man. Son of John Austin Clent and Mary, his wife, of 14, Victoria St., Shaw Heath, Stockport. Served in the South African Campaign.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: III. C. 52.

Cemetery: BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

[Will O'Brien]

& the cemetery details

Cemetery: BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY

Country: France

Locality: Pas de Calais

Location Information: Boulogne-sur-Mer is a large Channel port. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, one of the town cemeteries, lies in the district of St Martin Boulogne, just beyond the eastern (Chateau) corner of the Citadel (Haute-Ville). The cemetery is a large civil cemetery, split in two by the Rue de Dringhem, just south of the main road (RN42) to St Omer. The Commonwealth War Graves plot is located down the western edge of the southern section of the cemetery, with an entrance in the Rue de Dringhen. Car parking is available along the Rue de Dringhen.

Historical Information: Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August when the Allies were forces to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas. Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L'Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen. During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War. The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

No. of Identified Casualties: 5743

[Will O'Brien]

John Clent's online MIC index entry can be seen here

[Myrtle]

SDGW has John Clent Born: Stockport and Enlisted: Stockport. His middle name is spelt Gwillan and he is listed as DoW

[John_Hartley]

He's not commemorated on any of the town's war memorials (and, I'm afraid, I cannot get to the Local Heritage Library for some time to check for any obituaries).

He doesnt appear to be living in Stockport at the time of the 1901 Census (confirming his Boer War service)- although there is a 12 year old John Clent listed (as well as a 16 year old Jessie and 49 year old Mary. His father die din the June quarter 1888 according to FreeBMD).

John

[John_Hartley]

And the man himself. Taken from the Stockport Advertiser 19/03/15 - archive held by Stockport MBC Local Heritage Library. Note difference in age in newspaper report (presumably wrong)

[Will O'Brien]

Nice one John.............Always good to be able to put a face to a name