Person

Private Christopher Clewes (also spelt Clews) was a member of the 15th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He resided in Sacriston, County Durham and worked in Witton Pit. He had two brothers in the Durham Light Infantry. Christopher first arrived in France on 12 September 1915 and during his time in the DLI, he had more than a few close encounters. He was “gassed a little” and wounded once before ultimately dying of wounds in September of 1917. He wrote home to Sacriston about the War and one, in particular, was published by the Chester le Street Chronicle about enemy snipers attacking the camp from within:

“SHOOTING THE WOUNDED
Private C. Clewes, 15th DLI, writing to his father and mother at 148 Staffordshire Street, Sacriston, says: – I am now back for a little rest after having been in action. I am not so bad, but am tired with carrying wounded. Our Bob, another brother who is wounded, as is the writer, now, was quite right. I have never seen anything like this, but I am getting somewhat used to it. There is a very good set of lads here, and the Germans are getting it hot. I was slightly grazed yesterday whilst bandaging a fellow who had had both feet blown off. Today, at the time of writing we have a good wind in our favour, and the [curs?] will catch it. There are plenty of snipers here. Last Sunday a sniper was caught among our own men. He was in khaki, was in our lines and was shooting down officers and men like dogs. Another was hidden and was shooting the wounded as they were being brought in. They are now both in the happy hunting grounds, or somewhere else.”

It seems unlikely that Christopher actually encountered German snipers dressed in khaki. The “last Sunday” Clewes mentions in his letter was, presumably, Sunday 26 September 1915, when 14 and 15 DLI joined the failed attack at Loos. German snipers, wearing camouflage, often operated from No Man’s Land and it may well have been that these two snipers (wearing sandbags over their uniforms?) remained hidden as the advance waxed and waned, and then fired on the retreating British soldiers.

In 15 DLI’s War Diary for Loos, Major Johnson, in a vivid account, describes “snipers in the wood in front of A Company” even before the advance had begun from the old German front line trench. He later describes men emerging from the wood – “At first we took them for Germans in khaki, but only for a moment”. These men were from a Scottish Division. 15 DLI had never before been in battle and had only been in France two weeks.

Finally, there is no mention in the War Diary of Germans snipers wearing khaki. If they had been, then this ungentlemanly conduct would have been noted. And the unfortunate men shot as spies.


The Chester le Street Chronicle reported Private Clewes’ death on the 28th September, 1917:

“DEATH OF SACRISTON SOLDIER
Pte. C. Clews, DLI, of Staffordshire Street, Sacriston, who was wounded and transferred to a home garrison battalion, has just recently died in Guernsey. His funeral was attended by both his father and mother. Two brothers are in the DLI, one of whom has been awarded the Military Medal and Bar.”

The brothers referred to were Robert and Matthew Clewes.

Civil Parish: Witton Gilbert

Birth date: 1889

Death date: 17-Sep-1917

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 75 Engine Row, Sherburn Hill (1901 census)
Mount Pleasant, Sacriston (1911 census)
148 Staffordshire Street, Sacriston

Employment: Coal miner, putter (1911 census)

Family: Mother: Margaret Tempest (formerly Clewes) (CWGC)
Father: Matthew Clewes (1901 census)
Step-father: William Tempest
Siblings: Robert Clewes, Mary Clewes, Matthew Clewes, William Clewes, Margaret Clewes (1911 census) George Clewes (1901 census)

Military service:

Private
15th Durham Light Infantry
October 1915: wounded in battle. "gassed a little" whilst bandaging a wounded soldier
31st March 1916: reported wounded again by Chester-le-Street Chronicle
Transferred to Royal Defence Corps
Regimental number: 66190
September 1917: dies of wounds in Guernsey

Medal(s): 1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Saint Peter’s Church, Front Street, Sacriston (moved to Working Men’s Club)
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8522
Institute, Front Street Sacriston, roll of honour
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=8525
Fort George Military Cemetery, Saint Peter Port, Guernsey (CWGC)

Gender: Male

Contributed by Sacriston Heritage Group | Durham County Record Office | Durham at War Volunteers: Jack Mulligan and Lewis Cooper