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{{Short description|Scottish colonial administrator and military officer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| name =
|name= Martin Clemens
| image = Martin Clemens.jpg
|image= GuadCoastwatcher.gif
|image_size=
| caption = Martin Clemens and his Solomon scouts. Standing, left to right: Daniel Pule, Andrew Langabaea. Sitting, left to right: Olorere, Gumu, Chaparuka, Chaku.
|alt=
⚫
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1915|4|17}}
|caption= Martin Clemens and his Solomon scouts.
⚫
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2009|5|31|1915|4|17}}
⚫
|birth_date= {{Birth date|df=yes|1915|4|17}}
| placeofburial_label =
⚫
|death_date= {{Death date and age|df=yes|2009|5|31|1915|4|17}}
⚫
| placeofburial =
| birth_place =
|birth_place= [[Aberdeen]], Scotland
| death_place =
|death_place=
⚫
|placeofburial=
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname = Martin Clemens
|nickname=
| allegiance = {{flag|United Kingdom}} <br /> {{flag|Australia}}
|allegiance= {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch =
|branch= [[British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force]]
| serviceyears = 1941–1945
|serviceyears= 1941–1945
| rank = [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]]
|rank= [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]]
|servicenumber=
| unit =
|unit=
| commands =
|commands=
| battles =
|battles= [[Second World War]]
| awards =Military Cross (U.K.)</br>Legion of Merit (U.S.)</br>Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E.)</br>Member of the Order of Australia (A.M.)
* [[Solomon Islands campaign]]
⚫
| relations =
* [[Guadalcanal Campaign]]
⚫
| laterwork =
|awards= [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]<br/>[[Member of the Order of Australia]]<br/>[[Military Cross]]<br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (United States)
⚫
|relations=
⚫
|laterwork=
}}
}}


[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] '''Warren Frederick Martin Clemens''' [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Military Cross|MC]], [[Member of the Order of Australia|AM]] (17 April 1915 – 31 May 2009) was a [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial administrator and soldier. In late 1941 and early 1942, while serving as a District Officer in the Solomon Islands, he helped prepare the area for eventual resistance to Japanese occupation.
[[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] '''Warren Frederick Martin Clemens''' {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|CBE|AM|MC}} (17 April 1915 – 31 May 2009) was a Scottish colonial administrator and military officer. In late 1941 and early 1942, while serving as a District Officer in the Solomon Islands, he helped prepare the area for eventual resistance to Japanese occupation. His additional duties as a [[Coastwatchers|coastwatcher]] alerted the Allies to Japanese plans to build an airstrip on [[Guadalcanal]]. This resulted in Allied carrier raids and eventually a landing by United States forces and the beginning of the epic struggle in the Solomons. Clemens then directly served the U.S. Marines in coordinating intelligence on Japanese activities.

His additional duties as [[coastwatchers|coastwatcher]] alerted the Allies to Japanese plans to build an airstrip on [[Guadalcanal]]. This resulted in Allied carrier raids and eventually a landing by U.S. forces and the beginning of the epic struggle in the Solomons. Clemens then directly served the U.S. Marines in coordinating intelligence on Japanese activities.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Martin Clemens was born in [[Aberdeen]], [[Scotland]], son of Warren Clemens (musician). He won scholarships to [[Bedford School]] and [[Christ's College, Cambridge]], where he studied agriculture and natural sciences from 1933–1937.<ref name="smh">[http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/major-spied-on-japanese-20090614-c7d2.html?skin=text-only "Major Spied on Japanese"], ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' 15 July 2009.</ref>
Martin Clemens was born in [[Aberdeen]], Scotland, son of Warren Clemens, a musician. He won scholarships to [[Bedford School]] and [[Christ's College, Cambridge]], where he studied agriculture and natural sciences from 1933 to 1937.<ref name="smh">[http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/major-spied-on-japanese-20090614-c7d2.html?skin=text-only "Major Spied on Japanese"], ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' 15 July 2009.</ref>


==Early Career==
==Early career==
⚫
In 1938, Clemens joined the [[Colonial Service]] and was sent out to the British [[Solomon Islands]] Protectorate (BSIP). He served for three years as a cadet in [[Malaita]], and became a District Officer in 1941. With the coming of the Pacific War, he volunteered for military service in the [[British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force]] and was commissioned a captain. After a short leave in Australia in late 1941, Martin Clemens returned to the Solomons on a ship sent to evacuate European and Chinese residents from [[Guadalcanal]].<ref name="clemens">{{cite book| last = Clemens| first = Martin| year = 2004|edition=reissue| title = Alone on Guadalcanal: A Coastwatcher's Story| publisher = Bluejacket Books| isbn = 1-59114-124-9}}</ref>


==Second World War==
⚫
In 1938, Clemens joined the [[Colonial Service]] and was sent out to the British [[Solomon Islands]] Protectorate (BSIP). He served for three years as a cadet in [[Malaita]], and became a District Officer in 1941. With the coming of the Pacific War, he volunteered for military service in the [[British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force]] and was commissioned a Captain. After a short leave in Australia in late 1941, Martin Clemens returned to the Solomons on a ship sent to evacuate European and Chinese residents from [[Guadalcanal]].<ref name="clemens">{{cite book
⚫
While responsible for nearly fifteen thousand citizens and various other people on Guadalcanal, District Officer Clemens additionally served as a coastwatcher. The Japanese planned to cut off the United States' communications with New Zealand and Australia by building an airstrip on Guadalcanal. When they began landing infantry, support troops and engineers to begin the airstrip, Clemens reported such to the Allies by radio.<ref name="clemens" />
| last = Clemens
| first = Martin
| authorlink =
| year = 2004|edition=reissue
| chapter =
| title = Alone on Guadalcanal: A Coastwatcher's Story
| publisher = Bluejacket Books
| location =
| isbn = 1-59114-124-9
}}</ref>


⚫
Meanwhile, the managers of the coconut plantations had fled Guadalcanal in panic, abandoning the native workers from neighboring islands, who were left to be repatriated by Clemens. He then established his radio station and coastwatching activities. Though he was a commissioned officer, Clemens received no support from the military and had no uniform. After the Japanese occupied the island of [[Tulagi]] in early May, they initiated searches for Clemens, and the other Guadalcanal coastwatchers Donald S. Macfarlan, Kenneth D. Hay, Hugh A. Mackenzie, Leif Schroeder, and F. Ashton Rhoades.<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|41}} In June, the Japanese started constructing an airfield on Guadalcanal, further isolating Clemens and forcing him to conduct his activities from enclaves in the mountains. Clemens, on his jungle-shielded mountain, played a dangerous game of hide and seek with the Japanese. He and his tiny coastwatcher contingent were running low on everything they needed: food, supplies, and most critically, radio batteries. Barefoot, Clemens shared the privations of his coastwatchers. His shoes had disintegrated.
==WW II Career==
⚫
While responsible for nearly fifteen thousand citizens and various other people on Guadalcanal, District Officer Clemens additionally served as a coastwatcher. The Japanese planned to cut off the United States' communications with [[New Zealand]] and [[Australia]] by building an airstrip on Guadalcanal. When they began landing infantry, support troops and engineers to begin the airstrip, Clemens reported such to the Allies by radio.<ref name="clemens" />
⚫
Meanwhile, the managers of the coconut plantations had fled Guadalcanal in panic, abandoning the native workers from neighboring islands, who were left to be repatriated by Clemens. He then established his radio station and coastwatching activities. Though he was a commissioned officer, Clemens received no support from the military and had no uniform. After the Japanese occupied the island of [[Tulagi]] in early May, they initiated searches for Clemens and other known colonial officers. In June, the Japanese commenced the construction of an airfield on Guadalcanal, further isolating Clemens and forcing him to conduct his activities from enclaves in the mountains. Clemens, on his jungle-shielded mountain, played a dangerous game of hide and seek with the Japanese. He and his tiny coastwatcher contingent were running low on everything they needed: food, supplies, and most critically, radio batteries. Barefoot, Clemens shared the privations of his coastwatchers. His shoes had disintegrated.


Guadalcanal became the site of the first major land offensive against the Japanese in the South Pacific. Upon the [[Operation Watchtower|American invasion of Guadalcanal]], Clemens and his scouts were ordered to join the Marines at Lunga on 13 Aug.<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|196}} Cooperation between Clemens and the U.S. Marines made him a key operative on the island. Maj. Gen. [[Alexander Vandegrift]] gave Clemens "complete charge of all matters of native adminitration and of intelligence outside the perimeter".<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|199-200}} Clemens and his scouts provided the U.S. Marines much assistance with continuous raids on Japanese supplies and radio reports of the enemy's position.<ref name="clemens" />
Guadalcanal became the site of the first major land offensive against the Japanese in the South Pacific. Upon the [[Operation Watchtower|American invasion of Guadalcanal]], Clemens and his scouts were ordered to join the Marines at Lunga on 13 August.<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|196}} Cooperation between Clemens and the U.S. Marines made him a key operative on the island. Major General [[Alexander Vandegrift]] gave Clemens "complete charge of all matters of native administration and of intelligence outside the perimeter".<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|199–200}} Clemens and his scouts provided the U.S. Marines much assistance with continuous raids on Japanese supplies and radio reports of the enemy's position.<ref name="clemens" />


==Post War Career==
==Post-war==
His war service earned him the [[Military Cross]] (MC) on 15 December 1942,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35821|supp=yes|startpage=5437|date=11 December 1942|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref> and in 1944 the U.S. [[Legion of Merit]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36478|supp=yes|startpage=1821|date=18 April 1944|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref> The First Marine Division also awarded him the commemorative [[Faciat Georgius]] medal, which he helped design.<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|311}}
His war service earned him the [[Military Cross]] (MC) on 15 December 1942,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35821|supp=y|page=5437|date=11 December 1942}}</ref> and in 1944 the U.S. [[Legion of Merit]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36478|supp=y|page=1821|date=18 April 1944}}</ref> The First Marine Division also awarded him the commemorative [[Faciat Georgius]] medal, which he helped design.<ref name=clemens/>{{rp|311}}

Following the war, Clemens served in [[Palestine]] in 1946–1947 and [[Cyprus]] in 1948–1949, returning to Cyprus in 1951–1957 as District Commissioner, and was Defence Secretary during 1959–1960. Offered a further colonial position variously reported as having been in [[Burma]]<ref name="smh" /> or [[Sarawak]],<ref name=telegraph>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/army-obituaries/5626327/Major-Martin-Clemens.html "Major Martin Clemens"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 24 June 2009.</ref> he instead moved to Australia, which was home to his wife Anne. This later colonial career led to his appointment as [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the 1956 [[Queen's Birthday Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40787|supp=yes|startpage=3123|endpage=3124|date=25 May 1956|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref> and promotion to Commander in that order (CBE) in the 1960 [[New Year Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=41909|supp=yes|startpage=24|date=29 December 1959|accessdate=28 July 2010}}</ref>
Following the war, Clemens served in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] in 1946–1947 and [[Cyprus]] in 1948–1949, returning to Cyprus in 1951–1957 as District Commissioner, and was Defence Secretary during 1959–1960. Offered a further colonial position variously reported as having been in [[Burma]]<ref name="smh" /> or [[Sarawak]],<ref name=telegraph>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/army-obituaries/5626327/Major-Martin-Clemens.html "Major Martin Clemens"], ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', 24 June 2009.</ref> he instead moved to Australia, which was home to his wife Anne. This later colonial career led to his appointment as [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the 1956 [[Queen's Birthday Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40787|supp=y|pages=3123–3124|date=25 May 1956}}</ref> and promotion to Commander in that order (CBE) in the 1960 [[New Year Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=41909|supp=y|page=24|date=29 December 1959}}</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Martin Clemens married Anne Turnbull in 1948. They had four children. Clemens became an Australian citizen in 1961 and was involved in numerous public service and charity efforts.<ref name="smh" /> According to the official Australian Government online database of honours, he was appointed [[Member of the Order of Australia]] (AM) in 1993,<ref>[http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=873740&search_type=simple&showInd=true Clemens, Warren Frederick Martin, Member of the Order of Australia], ''It's an Honour'' database, [[Commonwealth of Australia]], 13 June 1993</ref> but obituaries report this honour as the lesser [[Medal of the Order of Australia]] (OAM).<ref name="smh" /><ref name=telegraph />
Martin Clemens married Anne Turnbull in 1948. They had four children. Clemens became an Australian citizen in 1961 and was involved in numerous public service and charity efforts.<ref name="smh" /> According to the official Australian Government online database of honours, he was appointed [[Member of the Order of Australia]] (AM) in 1993,<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/873740 Clemens, Warren Frederick Martin, Member of the Order of Australia], ''It's an Honour'' database, [[Commonwealth of Australia]], 13 June 1993</ref> but obituaries report this honour as the lesser [[Medal of the Order of Australia]] (OAM).<ref name="smh" /><ref name=telegraph />


==In popular culture==
==See also==
* [[William John Read]]

⚫
*[[Jacob C. Vouza]]
He is featured in the video game [[Medal of Honor: Rising Sun]], where he helps the main character locate and rescue American POWs.
*[[Arthur Reginald Evans]]


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}

==See Also==
⚫
*[[Jacob C. Vouza]]


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.usmarineraiders.org/book1.htm Martin Clemens's Biography]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051108002426/http://usmarineraiders.org/book1.htm Martin Clemens's Biography]
*[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155750122X Martin Clemens's Book on His Part in the War]
*[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155750122X Martin Clemens's Book on His Part in the War]
*PM Sikua Pays Tribute to British WW 2 Coast Watcher http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=4071
*[http://www.solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=4071 PM Sikua Pays Tribute to British WW 2 Coast Watcher]
⚫
{{Authority control}}
*[http://kittybrewster.com/ancestry/blaikie.htm]
⚫
{{Authority control|VIAF=33774561}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME =Clemens, Martin
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = British colonial administrator
| DATE OF BIRTH =17 April 1915
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =31 May 2009
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemens, Martin}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clemens, Martin}}
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[[Category:Scottish soldiers]]
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[[Category:People from Aberdeen]]
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[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]]
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[[Category:Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
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[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:1915 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
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[[Category:People educated at Bedford School]]
[[Category:Alumni of Christ's College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:Alumni of Christ's College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force officers]]
[[Category:British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force officers]]
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[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
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[[Category:Foreign recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
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[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
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[[Category:People educated at Bedford School]]
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[[Category:People from Aberdeen]]
⚫
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
⚫
[[Category:Scottish soldiers]]

Latest revision as of 13:59, 12 May 2024

Martin Clemens
Martin Clemens and his Solomon scouts.
Born(1915-04-17)17 April 1915
Aberdeen, Scotland
Died31 May 2009(2009-05-31) (aged 94)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force
Years of service1941–1945
RankMajor
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Member of the Order of Australia
Military Cross
Legion of Merit (United States)

Major Warren Frederick Martin Clemens CBE, AM, MC (17 April 1915 – 31 May 2009) was a Scottish colonial administrator and military officer. In late 1941 and early 1942, while serving as a District Officer in the Solomon Islands, he helped prepare the area for eventual resistance to Japanese occupation. His additional duties as a coastwatcher alerted the Allies to Japanese plans to build an airstrip on Guadalcanal. This resulted in Allied carrier raids and eventually a landing by United States forces and the beginning of the epic struggle in the Solomons. Clemens then directly served the U.S. Marines in coordinating intelligence on Japanese activities.

Early life

[edit]

Martin Clemens was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, son of Warren Clemens, a musician. He won scholarships to Bedford School and Christ's College, Cambridge, where he studied agriculture and natural sciences from 1933 to 1937.[1]

Early career

[edit]

In 1938, Clemens joined the Colonial Service and was sent out to the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). He served for three years as a cadet in Malaita, and became a District Officer in 1941. With the coming of the Pacific War, he volunteered for military service in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force and was commissioned a captain. After a short leave in Australia in late 1941, Martin Clemens returned to the Solomons on a ship sent to evacuate European and Chinese residents from Guadalcanal.[2]

Second World War

[edit]

While responsible for nearly fifteen thousand citizens and various other people on Guadalcanal, District Officer Clemens additionally served as a coastwatcher. The Japanese planned to cut off the United States' communications with New Zealand and Australia by building an airstrip on Guadalcanal. When they began landing infantry, support troops and engineers to begin the airstrip, Clemens reported such to the Allies by radio.[2]

Meanwhile, the managers of the coconut plantations had fled Guadalcanal in panic, abandoning the native workers from neighboring islands, who were left to be repatriated by Clemens. He then established his radio station and coastwatching activities. Though he was a commissioned officer, Clemens received no support from the military and had no uniform. After the Japanese occupied the island of Tulagi in early May, they initiated searches for Clemens, and the other Guadalcanal coastwatchers Donald S. Macfarlan, Kenneth D. Hay, Hugh A. Mackenzie, Leif Schroeder, and F. Ashton Rhoades.[2]: 41  In June, the Japanese started constructing an airfield on Guadalcanal, further isolating Clemens and forcing him to conduct his activities from enclaves in the mountains. Clemens, on his jungle-shielded mountain, played a dangerous game of hide and seek with the Japanese. He and his tiny coastwatcher contingent were running low on everything they needed: food, supplies, and most critically, radio batteries. Barefoot, Clemens shared the privations of his coastwatchers. His shoes had disintegrated.

Guadalcanal became the site of the first major land offensive against the Japanese in the South Pacific. Upon the American invasion of Guadalcanal, Clemens and his scouts were ordered to join the Marines at Lunga on 13 August.[2]: 196  Cooperation between Clemens and the U.S. Marines made him a key operative on the island. Major General Alexander Vandegrift gave Clemens "complete charge of all matters of native administration and of intelligence outside the perimeter".[2]: 199–200  Clemens and his scouts provided the U.S. Marines much assistance with continuous raids on Japanese supplies and radio reports of the enemy's position.[2]

Post-war

[edit]

His war service earned him the Military Cross (MC) on 15 December 1942,[3] and in 1944 the U.S. Legion of Merit.[4] The First Marine Division also awarded him the commemorative Faciat Georgius medal, which he helped design.[2]: 311 

Following the war, Clemens served in Palestine in 1946–1947 and Cyprus in 1948–1949, returning to Cyprus in 1951–1957 as District Commissioner, and was Defence Secretary during 1959–1960. Offered a further colonial position variously reported as having been in Burma[1] or Sarawak,[5] he instead moved to Australia, which was home to his wife Anne. This later colonial career led to his appointment as Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1956 Queen's Birthday Honours,[6] and promotion to Commander in that order (CBE) in the 1960 New Year Honours.[7]

Personal life

[edit]

Martin Clemens married Anne Turnbull in 1948. They had four children. Clemens became an Australian citizen in 1961 and was involved in numerous public service and charity efforts.[1] According to the official Australian Government online database of honours, he was appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1993,[8] but obituaries report this honour as the lesser Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[1][5]

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Major Spied on Japanese", Sydney Morning Herald 15 July 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Clemens, Martin (2004). Alone on Guadalcanal: A Coastwatcher's Story (reissue ed.). Bluejacket Books. ISBN 1-59114-124-9.
  3. ^ "No. 35821". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 December 1942. p. 5437.
  4. ^ "No. 36478". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 April 1944. p. 1821.
  5. ^ a b "Major Martin Clemens", The Daily Telegraph, 24 June 2009.
  6. ^ "No. 40787". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 May 1956. pp. 3123–3124.
  7. ^ "No. 41909". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1959. p. 24.
  8. ^ Clemens, Warren Frederick Martin, Member of the Order of Australia, It's an Honour database, Commonwealth of Australia, 13 June 1993
[edit]
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