A special ceremony to honour WW1 Victoria Cross recipient William Clamp has taken place on the 100th anniversary of his death at the Cenotaph in Motherwell.
The Lanarkshire soldier, born in Craigneuk, earned his medal for outstanding bravery and sacrifice during the Great War 1914 – 1918.
A commemorative paving stone has now been dedicated in his memory in the Duchess of Hamilton Park to providing a lasting legacy within the local community.
Officers from The Yorkshire Regiment, including Lieutenant Col David O’Kelly travelled north to take part in the service and joined family members from across the UK, veterans from the Cameronians and Depute Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Neena Mahal at the service on Monday 9 October.
Pupils from Fir Park secondary school performed the Act of Remembrance at the dedication.
William Clamp was posthumously honoured for most conspicuous bravery following the battle of Poelcapelle, Belgium on 9 October 1917.
William was born on 28th October 1892, one of 9 boys and 9 girls born to Charles and Christina Clamp of Bridge Street in Motherwell. He attended Craigneuk School, the local Salvation Army’s Sabbath School, going on to play the bugle in the Motherwell Corps of the Salvation Army as a member of the Good Templar Lodge. When his parents moved to Shield’s Road in Flemington William got a job with Messrs Hurst & Campbell, the wagon makers.
On 22nd January 1914 William joined the 6th Battalion of the Scottish Rifles (Cameronians), the local TA unit with whom he fought at Festubert in 1915. He was twice wounded and when he recovered from his second wounding he was transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regiment on 10th January 1917. It was with the 6th Battalion that he went on to win his Victoria Cross
William was part of an advance which was being checked by intense machine-gun fire from concrete blockhouses and by snipers in ruined buildings. He was first to reach the blockhouse and hurled in bombs. He entered and brought out a machine-gun and about twenty prisoners before continuing to display great heroism until he was killed in the battle by a sniper.
Provost of North Lanarkshire Jean Jones said: “The ceremony was a fitting tribute to an outstanding and brave solider who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. It was wonderful to see so many family members, many of whom had never met before, attending the service. The bravery of William and those who took part in the Great War must not be forgotten.”
The council’s Restorative Justice service installed the paving stone which was provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government.
