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603
A regimentally unique Great War M.C. group of six awarded to Major A. C. McLachlan, 18th Hussars, who was
wounded and taken P.O.W. at Talana prior to seeing further active service in North Nigeria 1902-03 and in the Great
War
MILITARY CROSS, G.V.R., the reverse privately inscribed, ‘Captain A. C. McLachlan, 18th Hussars, 24th May 1915’; QUEEN’S
SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Talana (Lieut. A. C. McLachlan, 18/Hussars); AFRICA GENERAL SERVICE 1902-56, 2 clasps,
N. Nigeria 1902, N. Nigeria 1903 (Capt. A. C. McLachlan, 8th Hussars); 1914-15 STAR (Capt. A. C. McLachlan, 18/Hrs.);
BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS (Major A. C. McLachlan), mounted as worn, generally good very fine (6) £1600-1800
M.C. London Gazette 16 January 1916.
Albert Charles McLachlan was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 18th Hussars in December 1893, and advanced to Lieutenant
in August 1899, on the eve of the Boer War. Subsequently employed in the Natal operations, he was wounded and taken P.O.W. at
Talana on 20 October 1899.
On that date, as verified in The 18th Hussars in South Africa, he served in ‘B’ Squadron and acted as his C.O’s galloper and, in
common with most of his comrades, and attached elements of the Mounted Infantry, was taken prisoner. The same source states that he
was one of 13 men who remained in enemy hands until sent into Ladysmith during the investment, but as a prisoner on parole, he was
‘debarred from taking any further part in the war’ (Queen’s Medal & clasp). Subsequently attached to the West African Frontier Force,
McLachlan participated in the North Nigeria operations of 1902, when he was present at Argungu and mentioned in despatches
(London Gazette 28 October 1904 refers), and afterwards in the Kano-Sokoto campaign of 1903 (Medal & 2 clasps).
During the Great War, he first landed in France in May 1915 and, in addition to his M.C., added two further “mentions” to his
accolades (London Gazette 1 January 1916 and 15 May 1917 refers). On 25 May 1915, the date inscribed on the reverse of the
recipient’s M.C., the Germans launched a gas attack in their last but one major attack in the 2nd Battle of Ypres.
604
A Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant John Richard Clements, Canadian Engineers,
late Grenadier Guards
MILITARY CROSS, G.V.R., unnamed; QUEEN’S SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1901, South
Africa 1902 (9001 Pte., Gren. Gds. M.I.); BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut) mounted for wear, good
very fine (4) £1000-1200
M.C. London Gazette 8 March 1919.
Citation: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the night of 8th/9th
October, 1918, he was in charge of a party of sappers detailed to build a bridge
over the Canal de l’Escaut to enable the infantry to cross to the attack. After man-
handling general service wagons, loaded with material along a road under heavy
fire, he pushed forward ahead and personally reconnoitred the bridge site. The
bridge was completed under heavy shell fire, causing several casualties, and the
infantry passed over it twenty-five minutes after the party arrived on the work.’
M.I.D. London Gazette 1 June 1917.
John Richard Clements was born in Battersea, Surrey, on 29 May 1880. A
Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Grenadier Guards at Chichester on
14 July 1900. With them he served as Mounted Infantry in South Africa,
November 1901-August 1902. He bought his discharge for £18 on 25 May 1903.
Later emigrating to Canada; at the time of the Great War he was living with his
wife at 45 Arthur Avenue, St. Thomas, Ontario. He enlisted into the 2nd
Canadian Pioneer Battalion at St. Thomas on 25 September 1915, giving his
occupation as Brakeman and Boilermaker. With the Pioneers he proceeded to
France, arriving there on 8 March 1916. He was appointed a Warrant Officer 2nd
Class in June 1916. Clements was wounded on 15 August 1917 but was able to
rejoin his unit on 29 September 1917. Posted to England in December 1917 he
was commissioned a Temporary Lieutenant in the Canadian Engineers in May
1918 and returned to France joining the 6th Battalion Canadian Engineers in July.
Awarded the Military Cross for his services at the Canal de l’Escaut in October
1918, he returned to England in April 1919 and to Canada in May 1919.
Lieutenant Clements was discharged at Ottawa on 31 May 1919. He died on 19
March 1953.
With a quantity of copied service papers and other research.
www.dnw.co.uk
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