Colour patch : Private J F Clements, 2/13 Battalion

Rectangular wool colour patch divided horizontally pale blue over dark blue, mounted on a pale grey circular background. The back is reinforced with lightweight buckram.

Worn at Tobruk by NX36682 Private J F Clements. This is the third pattern patch worn by 2/13 Battalion. It was worn between February 1941and December 1942. James Fosbery Clements was born at West Wyalong, NSW, on 16 March 1916. He was working as a tractor driver when he enlisted at Wagga Wagga, NSW on 12 July 1940. After training at Wagga and Tamworth he was assigned as a reinforcement to 2/13 Battalion. He arrived in North Africa in 1941, and after he underwent additional signals training he joined his unit at Tobruk. 2/13 Battalion defended Tobruk for eight months, until December 1941 and was the only Australian battalion to see out the siege. Clements, however, was evacuated to Egypt by sea on 27 October 1941, suffering severe synovitis to his knee. He was declared fit for duty in February 1942 and initially posted to the censorship section of the Australian Army Postal Corps. He returned to his battalion twice in 1942 but each time his knee broke down and he was again posted to the Field Censorship Section. After hospitalisation from September 1942 he returned to Australia at the beginning of 1943 and was taken on strength with the Australian Field Censorship Unit. In September 1943 he qualified for Group II Intelligence duties and was promoted to corporal. Clements was hospitalised again due to his knee in July 1944 and his fitness rating was downgraded to B2. He was promoted an acting sergeant in June 1944 and confirmed in the rank in 1945. Clements served with 1 Field Censorship Company in Darwin in September 1944; with the Townsville detachment in November 1944; and then at Aitape in New Guinea between March and July 1945. He was discharged on 4 September 1945.