Clement Freeman Sendall

A Corporal with the 2nd Battalion, Clement died on 25th of March 1918 at the age of 24. 

Clement was born at Lowestoft on 24 November 1893, a son of Clement Frederick and Celia Emily Sendall, and his family lived at 62 Cambridge Road. He was baptised at Christ Church on 8 April 1894. In 1901 his family lived at 47 Mariners Street. By 1911 they were living at 14 Ipswich Road, and Clement was a grocer’s apprentice. Later his parents lived at Park Estate, Oulton Broad.

Clement enlisted in the Army at Peterborough. He joined the Northamptonshire Regiment, service number 23397. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, in France, and joined B Company and was in V Platoon.  

On 23 March 1918 the 2nd Battalion marched to Licourt and then moved to positions on the west bank of the river, with D Company at Cizancourt, and A Company at Epenancourt. On 24 March 23 Brigade, on the battalion’s right, were attacked and driven back, leaving the battalion’s right flank in danger. The infantry action continued throughout the day, until about 5 p.m., and later the battalion were reinforced by the 5th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. The battalion created a defensive flank toward the Sherwood Foresters and the line to the north, but there was an unavoidable gap in the battalion’s line. During the night of 24/25 March the enemy attacked on the right causing the battalion to withdraw. A Company held their position until nearly surrounded and had to fight their way back. This rearguard action allowed the rest of the battalion to make an orderly withdrawal on the railway embankment, near Marchelepot. Later a further withdrawal was made to Ablaincourt. 

Clement was reported missing on 25 March and in subsequent months enquiries were made with the Red Cross. Later it was concluded that he had been killed in action on, or since, 25 March 1918.