View source for Clement Wilder Benporath

{{infobox soldier
| image           =[[File:Benporath_Clement_Wilder_1.jpg|400px|]]
| caption         =
| image2          =
| caption2        =
| dateofbirth	  = c1882
| placeofbirth	  = Kent, England
| death	          = 13 Feb 1951, aged 68
| placeofdeath	  = Claremont, Western Australia
| enlistmentage	  = 32 years, 4 months
| description	  = 5'10" (1.78m) tall; weight 145 lbs; fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair
| height          = 5'10" (1.78m)
| weight          = 145lbs
| complexion      = fair
| eyes            = blue
| hair            = brown
| descriptionnote = 
| occupation	  = Electrician
| religion	  = Church of England
| address	  = NOK Evelyn street, Gosnells, Western Australia (May 1917)
| relation	  = Wife
| nextofkin       = Mrs Anne Marie Benporath
| regnumber	  = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3074051 1578]
| enlistmentdate  = 19 Nov 1914
| rank	          = Lieutenant
| unit     	  = 16th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements
| embarkationdatefrom = 22 Feb 1915
| embarkationdateto = 24 Mar 1915
| shipembarked	  = [[HMAT A50 Itonus]]
| embarkationdatefrom2 = 26 Dec 1916
| embarkationdateto2 = 3 Mar 1917
| embarkedshipnote2 = Sea Transport duty
| shipembarked2	  = [[HMAT A34 Persic]]
| dateofreturnfrom = 24 Sep 1915
| dateofreturnto  = ?? Oct 1915
| shipreturned    = [[HMAT A38 Ulysses]]
| shipreturnednote = 
| dateofreturnfrom2 = 12 May 1917
| dateofreturnto2  = 23 Jun 1917
| shipreturned2    = [[HMAT A18 Wiltshire]]
| shipreturnednote2 = Transport duty only
| fate1	          = Wounded In Action 9 Aug 1915 at Hill 971, Gallipoli
| fate2           = Returned to Australia
| fate3           = 
| fate4           =
| monument1	  = Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll
| monumentnote1   =
| monument2	  = 
| monumentnote2   =
| monument3	  = 
| monumentnote3   =
| monument4	  = 
| monumentnote4   =
| monumentawm     =
| medal1	  = [[1914-15 Star]]
| medal2          = [[British War Medal]]
| medal3          = [[Victory Medal]]
| medal4          =
}}



==Pre War==
Six years previous experience with the Perth Field Artillery.
In 1910 Clement married Annie Marie Smith.
Electoral Roll entries: 1903 at 83 Wellington street, Perth, electrician; 1910 at 643 Murray street, Perth, electrician; 1916 Evelyn street, Gosnells, area officer with Anne.

==War Service==
Following a short period in camp, Clement was posted to the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. His records ell nothing of his time in Egypt, but show him as arriving on the Gallipoli Peninsular on 27 Apr 1915

On 13 May 1915 on Gallipoli Clement was promoted to Sergeant and then on 22 May 1915 to 2nd Lieutenant. Wounded in action on 7 Aug 1915 when the 4th Brigade attempted to take Hill 971. Clement's wounds were a minor bullet wound to the head and a severe wound to his hip/buttocks.  He was carried 500 yards to safety by an unidentified Private who had 5 bullet wounds to one of his arms.<ref>''The Old Sixteenth'', Capt C. Longmore, The Naval & Military Press, page 77.</ref> 

Clement was evacuated from Gallipoli aboard [[HMHS Devanha]] acting as a Hospital Ship, and on arrival in Alexandria was admitted to the 17th General Hospital on 9 Aug 1915. On 3 Sep 1915 he was sent back to Australia for 6 months from Suez aboard [[HMAT A38 Ulysses]]. Placed on the Supernumerary List on 22 Nov 1915.

On 15 Jun 1916 he was discharged from the [[8th Australian General Hospital]] in Fremantle, and his Appointment was terminated.

On 19 Dec 1916 he was Appointed 2nd Lieutenant for the voyage only aboard [[HMAT A34 Persic]] from Fremantle, as he was now serving with the "Sea Transport Service".  While in England he spent from 31 Mar 1917 until 10 May 1917 in the 2nd Eastern General Hospital in Brighton with complications to his previous wound.  He returned aboard [[HMAT A18 Wiltshire]], landing at Albany on 23 Jun 1917, and this appointment was terminated 2 days later having been struck off strength of the Transport Service on 12 May 1917.

==Post War==
Electoral Roll entries:  1925 - 1943 at 10 Waroonga road, Nedlands, electrical engineer.

A letter from Clement's wife Annie after his death made application for his Gallipoli Medal and indicated that during WW2, sons Major Gordon Wylder Benporath (1910 - 1982), and Lieutenant Brian Clement Benporath (1918 - 1989) as well as a daughter Pte Gweneth M. Benporath (1921 -  ) served in the military.  A Grandson Max Benporath, a National Serviceman went to Vietnam on 8 Apr 1967 with the 7th Battalion's first tour. He returned to Australia on 26 Apr 1968.

==Notes==
<references />

==External Links==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benporath , Clement Wilder}}

[[Category:Soldier]]
[[Category:Born England]]
[[Category:Electrician]]
[[Category:Church of England]]
[[Category:16th Battalion]]
[[Category:1914-15 Star]]
[[Category:1915 WIA]]
[[Category:Returned to Australia]]
[[Category:Gosnells]]