Gunner Clarence Raymond Hemming was born in Coughton, Warwickshire on 17th May 1895, a son of Albert Edward and Sarah Fanny Hemming. He enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery (No 66641) on 25th January 1915, in Stratford, when he was a farm labourer in Saintbury, Broadway. He was sent to France, as a gunner, on 25th August 1915 and wounded in May 1916. He had suffered a gunshot wound to his back and was in hospital and a convalescent home, from 19th May, until he was discharged as fit for service on 31st July. By that time, he was in St Luke’s Convalescent Home, Exmouth. Gunner Hemming returned to France on 14th September 1916, where he was twice more injured, in 1917 by shrapnel and 1918 due to an accident to his foot. He was recommended for the Military Medal for his actions and was mentioned in the London Gazette of 6th August 1918, his home being referred to as Honeybourne. Details of his actions to receive the MM have not been found. He also received the 1914-15 Star, Victory and British War Medals. When he received these, in 1920 and 1921, he was at Home Farm, Bretforton. By 1924, he was living in Wickhamford when his name appeared on the Electoral Register, at 5 Council Cottages (now 13 Pitchers Hill). By 1939, he was a cowman living in Shirehill Lane, South Littleton, with his wife, Nellie nee Mumford, whom he married in 1921. They had four children between 1921 and 1931. Clarence Raymond Hemming died in Worcester in late 1982.
