Private Clifford Washer: 25920 Somerset Light Infantry then 1942 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
Clifford was the youngest of three children of labourer and brick maker James Washer and his wife Amelia nee Lewis. Clifford had an elder brother called Sidney and an elder sister called Henrietta, known as Hetty. The Washer family lived in Taunton Road. In 1891, 17 year old Sidney was working as a painter, while Hetty, aged 14, was working as a dressmaker. Clifford, now aged 10, was at school. Amelia’s father Edward Lewis, was a house and sign painter, and it is possible that Sidney was working with his grandfather.
In 1901 the family were living at 99 Taunton Road, and 20 year old Clifford had joined his father as they were both working as brickyard labourers. Sidney still worked as a painter, and Hetty was working as a dressmaker on her own account, taking in sewing to do at home. By 1911 the family had moved to 81 Taunton Road and Clifford had left the brickyard and joined his brother in working as a painter. Hetty was still working at home as a dressmaker, but only three weeks after the census date she married Walter James Roman at Holy Trinity Church, Bridgwater. Clifford was one of her witnesses.
WWI was declared on the 28th of July 1914, but it was definitely not over by Christmas, as so many had hoped. Clifford married Sarah Duddridge in the spring of 1915, and he joined the Army sometime in June 1916. Shortly after this, his brother-in-law Walter Roman died of his wounds on the 28th of July 1916. Clifford initially joined the Somerset Light Infantry, but was transferred to the 5th Battalion, Dorset Regiment where his regimental number was 19425. After four months training he was at the front in October 1916. Three months later he was killed in the trenches on the 2nd of January 1917.
The Bristol Times and Mirror reported his death on the 13th of January 1917.
‘News has been received of the death of another Bridgwater soldier in the person of Private Clifford Washer Dorset Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs James Washer, of Lyndhurst Terrace, Taunton Road, who was killed by the bursting of a shell on Tuesday last. The late Private Washer, who was 35 years of age, was married about two years ago and his wife is at present residing in the town. He was well known and had many friends. Before joining the army, about seven months ago, he worked for Mr C. Bird, a local builder. He had been at the front about three months.’
Clifford Washer’s death was recorded at the Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, France, he is also remembered on the kerbstone of his brother-in-law Private Walter Roman in Wembdon Road Cemetery.
Clifford was posthumously awarded the Victory Medal and the British Medal for his war service.
Clifford and Sarah didn’t have any children. Sarah never remarried and lived another 55 years as a widow, after less than two years of marriage.
Clare Spicer and Jill Trethewey 15/03/2025
Additional material kindly supplied by Harry Frost and Dave Ferris
