Harold Clements, born in 1890, was the oldest of the four children born to Thomas and Mary Clements. He had been born at Healesville, as was his sister Ivy and brother Vivian who also served. They moved to Woods Point where the youngest of the family, Tom, was born in 1900. Once Harold was old enough he commenced teaching as junior teacher at Wood’s Point when he finished training was appointed in charge of Kalimna School in 1912. His parents and siblings had moved to Bairnsdale about 1905 and when visiting home, he often participated in shoots at the Bairnsdale Rifle Club and was regarded as a crack shot. He was a member for eight years and captain when he enlisted on 24 July 1915 a month after his brother Vivian. He embarked on the Wiltshire on 7 March the following year and while at Duntroon Plateau near the Suez Canal he transferred to the 59 th  Battalion to join his brother Vivian and was promoted to Corporal on 9 May. After training in Egypt he arrived in Marseilles a month later on 29 June. Seventeen men from East Gippsland lost their lives on 19 July 1916. The bitter fighting at Fleurbaix and Fromelles, claimed both Harold and his brother Vivian among them. It would be over twelve months before Harold would eventually be declared deceased. He is remembered on several honour rolls and memorials in both Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance.

4076 Corporal Harold George Clements – Bairnsdale / Kalimna Killed in Action 19 July 1916

….. enlisted with his brother and died the same day