William Clamp
Corporal, 6th Battalion. The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own)
- Register No.
- 215 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal all Corporals →
- Unit
- 6th Battalion. The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own) (register: Green Howards) all Green Howards VCs →
- Date of action
- 9 October 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 18th December, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 28th October 1891 at Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Died
- 9th October 1917 at Poelcapelle, Belgium. (killed in action)
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
Digest of citation
On 9th October 1917 at Poelcapelle, Belgium, when the advance was checked by intense machine-gun fire from concrete block houses and by snipers, Corporal Clamp attempted to rush the largest Blockhouse. His first attempt failed and the two men with him became casualties, but he collected some bombs and two more men and dashing forward was the first to reach the Blockhouse where he hurled his bombs, killing many of the occupants. He then entered, capturing a machine gun and about 20 prisoners whom he brought back under heavy fire. He went forward again encouraging his men and displaying the greatest heroism until killed by a sniper
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
CLAMP, William. (reg No. 215).
Corporal 6th Battalion. The Yorkshire Regiment (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own).
London Gazetted on 18th December, 1917.
Born on 28th October 1891 at Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Died on 9th October 1917 at Poelcapelle, Belgium. (killed in action).
Memorial at Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Digest of Citation reads: On 9th October 1917 at Poelcapelle, Belgium, when the advance was checked by intense machine-gun fire from concrete block houses and by snipers, Corporal Clamp attempted to rush the largest Blockhouse. His first attempt failed and the two men with him became casualties, but he collected some bombs and two more men and dashing forward was the first to reach the Blockhouse where he hurled his bombs, killing many of the occupants. He then entered, capturing a machine gun and about 20 prisoners whom he brought back under heavy fire. He went forward again encouraging his men and displaying the greatest heroism until killed by a sniper.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium
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