John James Clements

John James Clements VC (Middleburg, Cape Province June 19, 1872- June 18, 1937) was a South African recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Biography

He was 28 years old, and a corporal in the Rimington's Guides, South African Forces during the South African War (Boer War) when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 24 February 1901, near Strijdenburg, South Africa, Corporal Clements was dangerously wounded in the lungs and called upon to surrender, but instead he threw himself into the midst of a party of boers, shooting three of them with his revolver, and thereby causing the whole party to surrender.

Clements later achieved the rank of Sergeant.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/aaauctio.htm VC medal auction details]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11293767 Find-A-Grave profile for John James Clements]