The eldest son of Ernest and Cecilia, Ray Edwin Clements was born July 13 in 1923 in ‘Montrose’ Private Hospital, Robertson Street, Crookwell, becoming the fifth generation of graziers on the family property ‘Burwood’, Binda. Following his primary education at Five Mile Tree School, he began secondary studies by correspondence. He completed Stage 1 wool classing before WWII at Technical College, attending classes at Bigga. He finished Stage 2 after the war and classed the wool clip at ‘Burwood’ (and elsewhere) for many, many years.
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In 1942 he commenced military service as a recruit at Wallgrove Camp, then undertook training with the Provost Corp. A fellow trainee, George Westbury, took him home on leave, where he met George’s sister, Beryl. They were to marry after the war. He was posted to 54th Battalion after being reluctant to ride the Provost motorcycles. This battalion deployed to Western Australia in anticipation of a Japanese invasion in the west, where he enlisted in the AIF and qualified as a Signaller.
In late 1943, the 54th Bn moved to Atherton, Queensland and disbanded. He became a member of Signals Platoon, 2/2 Battalion just as it was preparing to go to New Guinea. In December 1944 they boarded the liberty ship Jane Adams as part of the 6th Division’s campaign in Aitape-Wewak, Papua New Guinea. At the war’s end, he was in the surrender parade at Wewak and returned to Australia in February 1946. He was demobilised in June 1946 before returning to ‘Burwood’ in Binda.
Ray married Beryl Westbury in Marrickville in February 1947. He was involved in the community. He joined the RSL Sub-Branch shortly after his return to Crookwell and was a life-long member. He was Secretary or Vice-Captain of the Binda Bush Fire brigade for 40 years or more, earning the National Medal and clasp. For about nine years, he was president of the Five Mile Tree School P&C and given life membership of the P&C Association NSW. For a time, he was Vice-President of the Crookwell Branch of the NSW Farmers Association, attending their conferences until 1986. He became a steward at the Bigga Methodist Church shortly after his marriage and an elder of the UCA after its inception in 1977, resigning aged 90.
Predeceased by Beryl and brother Kenneth, he is survived by three children Kay (Thomas), Philip and Barry; nine grandchildren, nine great- grandchildren; brother Leo and sister Marie (Hearn). He died at Viewhaven on July 27, 2018. After an August 6 service at the Uniting Church Crookwell, he was laid to rest beside Beryl at Binda Cemetery.
He was one of a generation who are almost gone, their lives forever shaped by their war service.
