Discharged Returned Soldier Badge: Driver R Clements, 5 Field Artillery Brigade, AIF

Discharged Returned Soldier Badge. In the centre of the circular brass badge is the rising sun and 'A.I.F' surrounded by the words 'ISSUED BY DEPT OF DEFENCE RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE'. The badge is surmounted by a King's crown. The reverse of the badge is impressed with the maker's details and the serial number '51386'. The reverse of the badge has also been engraved with '7335 R. Clements 14th Battery'.

Robert Clements was born in Ipswich, Queensland in 1875. He originally served in the Boer War with 5 Queensland Imperial Bushmen Contingent as a private with the service number 40. He embarked in March 1901 for South Africa, arriving in April. He served in South Africa for almost a year, during which he attained the rank of corporal on 1 November 1901. On 27 March 1902 he embarked from Cape Town aboard the ship St Andrew. The unit was disbanded on 5 May.

During the First World War, Clements enlisted in the AIF in Liverpool, New South Wales on 13 July 1915 at the age of 40. He originally served with 2 Battalion, with the rank of private and the service number 7335. He was promoted to corporal in August 1915, before transferring to 14 Battery of 5 Australian Field Artillery Brigade in September 1915 with the reduced rank of gunner. He was promoted to corporal again soon after.

In early November 1915 Clements took another reduction in rank to become a driver. He embarked with his unit aboard HMAT Bulla in November 1915. Disembarking in Egypt in December, he spent some time ill in hospital before rejoining his unit. He arrived in France in March 1916, and was soon in action near Fleurbaix in April.

From late January to February 1917, Clements spent further time ill in hospital, before returning to his unit. In January 1918, he transferred to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery as part of the permanent training staff. Clements returned to Australia aboard HMAT Gaika, arriving on 31 December 1918. He was discharged medically unfit with chronic rheumatism in February 1919.