Remembrance - The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War

Corporal William CLAMP, VC

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For most conspicuous bravery near Poelcapelle on the 6th October 1917, when an advance was being checked by intense machine-gun fire from concrete blockhouses and by snipers in ruined buildings, Corporal Clamp dashed forward with two men and attempted to rush the largest blockhouse. His first attempt failed owing to the two men with him being knocked out, but he at once collected some bombs and, calling upon two men to follow him, again dashed forward. He was first to reach the blockhouse and hurled in the bombs, killing many of the occupants. He then entered and brought out a machine gun and about twenty prisoners, whom he brought back under heavy fire from neighbouring snipers. This non-commissioned officer then again went forward, encouraging and cheering the men and succeeded in rushing several snipers' posts. He continued to show the greatest heroism until he was killed by a sniper. His magnificent courage and self-sacrifice were of the greatest value and relieved what was undoubtedly a very critical situation. Corporal William Clamp, VC

Corporal William Clamp leads a bombing team against yet another German machine-gun post in a pillbox close to the Brewery at Poelcapelle, - 9th October 1917.

William Clamp was born to Charles and Christina Clamp of Bridge Street, Motherwell on the 28th October 1892 and educated at Craigneuk School.   He had eight brothers and nine sisters.   William also attended the local Salvation Army's Sabbath School and played the bugle in the Motherwell Corps of the Salvation Army.   He later became a member of the Good Templar Lodge.   When his parents moved to Reid's Terrace, Shields Road, Flemington, he got a job at Messrs Hurst & Nelsons making wagons.   From there, on 22nd January 1914, he joined the 6th Scottish Rifles (Cameronians), the local territorial army unit.
On the outbreak of the Great War, he was immediately called up and saw fighting with the 6th Cameronians at Festubert in 1915.   He was twice seriously wounded and when he came out of hospital the second time, he was transferred to the 6th Yorkshires on 10th January 1917.
43537 Corporal William Clamp won the VC for his bravery at Poelcappelle on 9th October 1917.   He was killed by sniper fire the same day but his body was never recovered.   The announcement of the VC was made in The London Gazette on 19th December 1917.   His name is carved on the Tynecot 'Memorial to the Dead' in Belgium, some five miles north east of Ypres.
A gold medal is awarded annually at his old school in his honour and, 65 years later, Motherwell Council named a road in Craigneuk: 'Clamp Road'.   The VC was handed to one of his brothers, James Clamp, who moved with the family to Coventry.   When he died, it was passed on to his sister, Mrs J. Kelly who sold it to the Regiment in 1967.   Corporal Clamp's VC and medals are presently held by the Green Howards Regimental Museum in Richmond.


Information on the medal holders on this page, and other pages relating to the regiment's WW1 VC holders, is taken from "Beyond Their Duty" by Roger Chapman.   This book was specialy written to commemorate the only occasion on which all 18 Victoria Crosses won by members of the Green Howards regiment were together (April to October 2001, in the Green Howards Museum).   The book may be purchased from the Green Howards Museum Shop.

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