Benporath, Clement Wilder

Lieutenant Clement Wilder Benporath - 16th Battalion AIF

Clement Wilder Benporath was born in Dartford Kent England on the 16th August 1882 to George and Francis Benporath.

The Benporath family came to Western Australia in 1895

Clement took up an electrician apprenticeship of 7 years with the Perth Gas Company, after which he qualified as an electrician.

During this time Clement had seen 6 years of service with the Perth Field Artillery of the Citizens Military Forces.

In 1910 Clement married Annie Marie Smith in North Perth. A son, Gordon was born in 1910, followed by Grace (1912), Keith (1913), Brian (1918), Frances (1919) and Gweneth (1921).

The family had been living in Cottesloe and Perth.

On the 19th November 1914, Clement enlisted into the AIF. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 10 inches;

Weight - 145lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;

Complexion - Fair;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Clement was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned for a short period to a Depot Training Company but was then assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA until they embarked from Fremantle Harbour aboard the HMAT Itonus on the 22nd February 1915. Clement had been appointed to the rank of Corporal.

After arriving in Egypt in March, Clement spent the next few weeks training in the desert, until he was sent to join the 16^th Battalion at Lemnos Island on the 12^th April 1915.

It seems that Clement joined the 16^th Battalion after the landing at Gallipoli, records indicating that he officially came on strength of the 16^th on the 7^th May 1915. Two days later, on the 9^th May, the 16^th took part in an assault on Quinn’s Post. Clement took part in this action and came through unscathed. On the 13th May he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

The 16th Battalion spent the next few months in the dangerous sector around Quinn's Post and Popes Hill.

Clement had been given a battlefield commission on the 27th May 1915 and had become a Second Lieutenant.

In August 1915, Clements' unit took part in an advance through the northern sector of the Gallipoli sector. The aim was to capture Hill 971, but despite the bravery of the soldier, the advance could make little headway against determined Turkish resistance and the harsh terrain.

On the 9th August 1915 Clement was severely wounded being hit by Turkish bullets in the head and hip. Stretcher bearers took him back to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station where his wounds were treated and dressed.

Clement was then sent to a hospital ship and transported to Egypt. On arrival he was admitted to the 17th General Hospital in Alexandria. In September 1915 he was returned to Australia. On arrival back in Fremantle Clement was sent to No.8 General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle where he had more treatment on his wounds.

On the 14th April 1916 Clement was discharged from the AIF. However he wanted to keep serving in any capacity, firstly as a recruitment officer and JP in Fremantle during 1916, and then he enlisted again, but due to his health, Clement was only utilised as an AIF Officer for the voyage of the troopships to England as part of the Sea Transport Service. On the 29th December 1916 he was appointed Adjutant aboard the transport ship Persic which left Fremantle on the 29th December 1916. The ship arrived at Devonport Harbour on the 3rd March 1917.

During the voyage Clement had been having issues with his old leg wound and upon arrival in England he was admitted to the 27th General Hospital in Brighton on the 21st March 1917. He was discharged from hospital on the 10th May 1917.

On the 12th May 1917 Clement boarded a troopship for the voyage home to WA, disembarking at Albany from the transport ship Wiltshire on the 23rd June 1917.

Post the Great War, the family lived in Gosnells and later in Nedlands and Clement was working as an electrical engineer.

Clement died on the 13th February 1951. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.