Lt Colonel Percy Archer Clive DSO Gren.Guards/Lancashire Fusiliers

[Myrtle]

Lewis Clive was a Socialist MP in North Kensington and a member of The International Brigade, killed in action during the Spanish Civil War. His father was Lt Colonel Percy Archer Clive DSO Grenadier Guards and according to CWGC Sec. Reg. Lancashire Fusiliers, who fought in WW1 and died 04/04/1918. He was said to have commanded 7th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment from 1916 -1918. Does anyone know the circumstances of Lt Col Percy Archer's death ?

Myrtle

[Myrtle]

If someone has the 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers Diary I would appreciate a look up as Lt Col. Clive appears to have been killed in action while attached to this battalion.

Myrtle

[Stebie9173]

Can't find a specific reference to Percy Clive's death in the times but:

The Times 13-4-1918

A memorial service will be held for Lieutenant Colonel Perc yarcher Clive, M.P., Grenadier Guards at St. Margaret's, Westminster on Wednesday April 17 at 12.30 and also at Hereford Cathedral on the same day at noon.

The Times 18-4-1918

The Times 24-5-1918

Roll of Honour

Killed.

Clive, Lt. Col. P. A., D.S.O., Gr. Gds. attached Ln. Fus.

The Times 2-8-1918

Any use?

Steve.

[PhilB]

At Bucquoy on 5th April, Lt Col Clive led parts of the 1/5 LF to support a counterattack after a German advance. The British were held up at Bucquoy crossroads. Capt Sutton (1/8 LF) in local command was seriously wounded and Clive took up stretcher bearers to see Sutton and find out the situation. As he turned away after getting the information and ensuring that the stretcher bearers had begun to carry Sutton to the rear, he was killed. Phil B

[Myrtle]

Steve

Thank you for information from The Times. It's always useful.

Phil

Exactly what I was hoping to read. Thank you.

Was the extract you posted from the 1/5th War Diary ? There is a memorial in Hereford Cathedral unveiled in 1920 that states that Lt Col Clive was killed at the village of Bucquoy 5th April 1918 while in act of rescuing a wounded comrade. CWGC has Lt Col Clive listed as killed 4th April 1918. There seems to be a difference of opinion regarding the date of his death.

Myrtle

[PhilB]

That was from the Regtl History. Mark Hone may be able to add more. Phil B

[Blackblue]

Hi Myrtle,

My grandfather was with the 1/5th Bn at this time. The War Diary does not add anything further regarding his death. The situation is as previously described. LT COL Clive first appears to be mentioned personally at 2.00pm.

2.00pm MAJOR G.S.CASTLE MC is ordered by LT COL P.A.CLIVE to see CAPT SUTTON 1/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS and arrange a counter-attack. MAJOR G.S.CASTLE MC goes over to 1/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS HQ & returns & reports to LT COL P.A.CLIVE. that the situation is very obscure - that there is great confusion in BUCQUOY - that all the 1/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS' Officers are casualties except CAPT SUTTON. LT COL P.A.CLIVE immediately goes over with MAJOR G.S.CASTLE MC to 1/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS & 13th ROYAL FUSILIERS HQ, which were together, to arrange details of counter-attack.

4.30pm C & D Coys 1/5th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS under command of MAJOR G.S.CASTLE MC go forward to counter attack on the left, LT COL P.A.CLIVE taking the right.

5.00pm LT COL P.A.CLIVE reports he is advancing with little resistance. His report centre is main cross roads, BOCQUOY at L3B33.

5.30pm CAPT SUTTON commanding 1/8th LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS reported wounding and asking for LT COL P.A.CLIVE to give important message. LT COL P.A.CLIVE goes over to him and whilst talking to him is himself killed. On the left MAJOR G.S.CASTLE MC goes forward with two platoons of C Coy & gets in touch with 2LT W.STRINGER, who is 150 yards West of BUCQUOY-ABLAINZEVELLE ROAD.

Rgds

Tim D

[Myrtle]

Tim

Thank you. Am I correct in saying that this is an extract from the battalion diary from 5th April 1918 ?

Interesting how the story differs from that of Lt Col Clive's memorial in Hereford Cathedral.

Captain Sutton may be George William Sutton who appears to have survived his injuries.

Myrtle

[PhilB]

Captain Sutton may be George William Sutton who appears to have survived his injuries.

Myrtle

It is indeed Capt G.W.Sutton. Phil B

[Myrtle]

Phil

Thanks for confirmation. I did a mic search and then checked with CWGC. Good to know it worked.

Myrtle

[linge]

Myrtle

This is from the House of Commons Book of Remembrance 1914-1918:

LIEUT.-COLONEL P. A. CLIVE

Grenadier Guards

Percy Archer Clive was the eldest son of Charles Meysey Bolton Clive, Esquire, J.P., of Whitfield Court, Herefordshire, and Lady Katherine Feilding, youngest daughter of the 7th Earl of Denbigh. He was born in 1873, educated at Eton and Sandhurst and entered the Grenadier Guards in 1891, being appointed Captain in 1899 and retiring in 1901. He served in West Africa in 1898, in the Expedition to Annan, and in South Africa in 1899-1901 when he received the Queen's Medal with five clasps. Whilst fighting in South Africa he was elected M.P. for South Herefordshire. He acted as Parliamentary private secretary (unpaid) to Mr. Austen Chamberlain.

Col. Clive served actively with the forces from the beginning of the War, rejoining the colours on August 5th, 1914. In the following November he returned to his own regiment, the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards. He was with the Battalion through much heavy fighting in France in the first winter of the War and in the following April was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government for a daring exploit in the trenches. Accompanied by Major Foulkes, Col. (then Capt.) Clive ventured beyond the British lines in the dark and made a successful reconnaissance. They explored a section of the German trenches which proved to be empty, and then came upon a group of the enemy in a connecting trench. They were surrounded by Germans but managed to escape unhurt amid a shower of bullets, and having gained the valuable knowledge they had sought. The Legion of Honour was afterwards presented to Col. Clive by General Joffre and he was mentioned in one of Sir John French's despatches of the same month.

In August, 1915, Col. Clive was wounded in the head at Givenchy and invalided home. The following May he took command of the 7th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment in France, being promoted Lieut.-Colonel. Not long afterwards he was again seriously wounded at Le Transloy sustaining a fractured thigh and a wound in the shoulder. On his recovery he was ordered for duty with the Southern Army at Brentwood, Essex, but later returned to France and was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch of November 7th, 1917. He was killed in action at Bucquoy, in France, on April 5th, 1918, while helping a wounded officer, and was at that time attached to the 1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers. His body was not recovered, but his name is perpetuated on the Arras Memorial.

Colonel Clive was awarded the Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre, and was twice mentioned in despatches.

Regards

Pam

[Myrtle]

Pam

Excellent. I was hoping to find out more regarding his previous woundings. Thank you.

Again date of death given as 5th April 1918 !

Lt Col Clive's son Lewis Clive, who won a gold medal in the double sculls at the 1932 Olympics, was killed in action at Hill 481, Spain August 1938 while fighting with the International Brigade. Lewis's older brother Major Meysey George Dallas Clive who was with the Grenadier Guards in WW2 was killed 01/05/43.

Regards

Myrtle

[Blackblue]

Hi Myrtle,

Yes this is from a typewritten extract from the LF Museum.

Rgds

Tim