Charles Benjamin Clear (1908-1975)

Soldier

Service No:	400556, later 7903826
Rank:	Corporal
Squadron:	B
Role:	Tank Commander
Service:	Enlisted in the RTR 6 Sep 1926. Re-enlisted in the RAC 5 Jun 1940
Wounded:	28 Jun 1944
Mentioned in:	23H Story Page 57, Page 274 Other Incident Report Page 1, Page 2

Civilian

Occupation:	Hairdresser
Residence:	6 Bowerdean Street, London SW6 (1931, 39), 4 Peterborough Mansions, New Kings Rd, London SW6 (1946-53)
Birth:	1 Dec 1908 in Fulham, London
Death:	registered Jul 1975 in St Albans, Hertfordshire
Marriage:	to Bridget Patricia Finnegan registered Dec 1928 in Fulham, London
Children:	none

Parents

Charles Clear	Amelia Jane Bowden
Brewer and sometime musician, Irish Guards. 69 Britannia Road, Fulham (1911), 116 Wandsworth Bridge Rd, Fulham (1924). Birth 21 Jul 1876 in Stockwell, Surrey. Death 12 Apr 1924 in Middlesex.	Birth 5 Apr 1877 in Marylebone, London. Death registered Apr 1959 in Fulham.
Marriage 11 Oct 1903 at St James' Church, Fulham .

Notes

Corporal Clear was in command of Sherman tank no. T149996 when it took a direct hit during the assault on Hill 112 (see the 23H Story, p57 and Bishop Page 17, Page 18). Although wounded, he managed to escape. The remaining crew members were all killed:

L/C R.P. Holt (Driver)
Tpr J.A. Stebbings (Co-driver)
Tpr J. Brown (Operator)
Tpr J.E. Sawyer (Gunner)