43835 Private Clarence Vivian Clements Fry, 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment
Clarence Fry was born in Bridgwater in October 1898 to William and Rosa Fry. Rosa (nee Clements) seems to have died soon after this, as in 1901 Clarence, aged 5, was living with his grandparents in Alderbury in Wiltshire. On 11 January 1911 he enrolled in Dr Morgan's School in Bridgwater, by which time he was living with his father in 58 Ashleigh Avenue. From the census that year we learn that the house was called 'Verona'. The admission form for Dr Morgan's tells us that Clarence had been educated in Bridgwater in the council school. In the 1911 Census, Clarence was aged 12, his father William was working as a Cheese Monger (the admission papers to Dr Morgan's had listed his occupation as 'wholesale proprietor'). William had remarried to Amy Mary Fry, and they had had a daughter, Amy - Clarence's half sister.
Clarence completed his education at Dr Morgan's on 27 July 1915. The First World War was almost a year old at this point, although the records of Dr Morgan's tell us that Clarence left to continue private study for the Civil Service.
Clarence Fry's war record is somewhat obscure. His name does not appear in the Bridgwater Mercury during the war. He served for a time in the Royal Army Service Corps (M/297131), before transferring to the 1st Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (43835).
He died in wounds in Britain on 5 November 1918. In 1918 the 1st Wiltshires were involved in some of the bloodier battles in the Western Front, so presumably Clarence was wounded in action. His father was listed as his next of kin.
Clement was awarded two medals, which will have gone to his father. The War Medal and the Victory Medal. His War Medal is now in the possession of the Friends of the Wembdon Road Cemetery:
