| Clementi-Smith | E | | Lieutenant | He died on October 4th, 1901, of pneumonia and wounds received in action September 11th, 1901, at Georgiana, Harrismith. He was for several years secretary of the Middlesex Rifle Association, and shot for the Queen's Prize at Bisley as a member of the Middlesex Yeomanry Cavalry, in which he was at one time sergeant instructor of musketry. Before joining the Middlesex Yeomanry Cavalry, Lieutenant Clementi-Smith was an officer in the Canadian Artillery. He went to South Africa as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Imperial Yeomanry at the beginning of 1901, and was promoted Lieutenant in July. He was mentioned in the despatch of General Lord Kitchener, October 8th, 1901, for having "advanced alone to occupy a position the Boers were making for, and though wounded through his right shoulder he continued to fire from the left, keeping the enemy off until he was reinforced". He was awarded the DSO for this act of gallantry.
Source: Donner | 11th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry |
| Clementi-Smith | Eugene | | Lieutenant | CLEMENTI-SMITH, EUGENE, Lieutenant, was born 3 December 1847, at the Rectory, Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell, Essex, eighth son of the Reverend John Smith, MA, Rector of Buckhurst Hill, and Cecilia Susanna Clementi, daughter of Muzio Clementi. He was educated at St Paul's School, London, and joined the Winnipeg Field Battery in 1871, and in 1872 "undertook the reorganization of the Manitoba Rifle Association, and was-elected the first vice-president and chief executive officer, in which capacity he served till he left Winnipeg for the North-West Territories in 1878. In 1874 he won the championship of his province, and in 1875 the Governor-General's (Lord Dufferin) silver medal and the gold medal, of the DAG" ('Volunteer Record',5 October 1895). Captain Clementi-Smith was High Commissioner (HM Civil Service), and JP of Brandon, Manitoba, where, in 1882 he again organized a Rifle Association, of which he was elected president, and in which he won grand aggregate medals in 1884 and 1885. In the latter year he was instrumental in assisting to raise the Manitoba Grenadier Regiment for active service, under General Middleton, in the Reil Rebellion, and in this regiment he held the commission of First Lieutenant, and served throughout the campaign, receiving the War Medal (NW Canada) in recognition of his services. He was mentioned in General Middleton's Despatches, 1887; returned to England and in 1890 joined the Middlesex Yeomanry, having passed the Hythe School to qualify for the position of Instructor of Musketry to the corps. While connected with the regiment he took part in most of the National Rifle Association's meetings at Bisley, where for several years in succession, he shot his way into the 'Queen's Hundred'. He also shot at Darnley, Altcar and Belfast, winning many cups and medals. He was champion of the South London Rifle Club in 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898, and on the 30th April of the last-named year he made a record score in a friendly match on the Runnemede Range—the highest possible at 200, 500 and 600 yards, 21 bull's-eyes in all. As Honourable Secretary to the Middlesex Rifle Association for six years, his work should not be forgotten. From a state of bankruptcy he raised the Association to a sound financial position, with a large credit balance. During the last two years he freely bestowed his time and skill on the coaching of recruits, personally superintending the weekly 'spoon shoots' at Bisley, which he organized in connection with the Association. On 27 February 1901, he was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the Imperial Yeomanry, sailing for the front on 8 March, with the temporary rank of Captain and Adjutant. He was attached to the 8th Division (General Rundle), and remained on active service till his death. His work was so successful that on one occasion in June a complimentary message was heliographed from Lord Kitchener, and was followed by a personal interview with General Rundle, who said: "I have heard a great deal about your exploits and the keen interest you take in all your military duties. I have wanted to see you and thank you for your work at Bethlehem. I have consulted with Colonel Firman, and intend to give you a much freer hand in future, and you will have a party of Scouts, the selection being in your hands. I hope to increase your command in the near future". It was while leading 'Clementi's Scouts'(nearly all Middlesex men) on trek from Bethlehem to Harrismith, and defending a position that was being attacked, that Captain Clementi-Smith received, on 11 September, the severe wound in the right shoulder which afterwards proved fatal. He died 4 October 1901, aged 54. In the London Gazette of 11 October 1901, is the announcement of his creation to a Companionship of the Distinguished Service Order: "Eugene Clementi-Smith, Lieutenant, Imperial Yeomanry. For extreme gallantry in action at Harrismith (since died of wounds)". In Lord Kitchener's Despatch, published in the 'Times' of Wednesday, 4 December, there is the following paragraph: "11th Imperial Yeomanry.— Lieutenant E Clementi-Smith (since died of wounds), on 11 September 1901, in Harrismith district, advanced alone to occupy a position Boers were making for, and though wounded through right shoulder, continued to fire from left, keeping enemy off till he was reinforced. Awarded DSO by War Office Telegram No. 9599, dated 9 October 1901". His father was formerly Head Master of Mercers' School and Chaplain of the Company. Lieutenant Clementi-Smith was educated at the Mercers' School, and his brother, the Reverend P Clementi-Smith (Rector of St Andrew's Church, Doctors' Commons, London), as House Warden of the Mercers' Company, had the responsibility of arranging for the Memorial erected by the Mercers' Company in their Chapel to Lieutenant Clementi-Smith, Lieutenant J S Watney and Private F J Dubois. The NRA have gold, silver and bronze medals which are shot for annually, as a memorial of Lieutenant Clementi-Smith's work in the interests of rifle-shooting. He married, on 23 November 1881, at St Jude's Church, Southsea, Wilhelmina Maria Barnes, daughter of James Barnes, and their daughter was Lilian Clementi, born at Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, 28 August 1883. She married Major A M Matthews, RGA.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Imperial Yeomanry |
