An appeal has been launched to raise funds for a memorial to Gloucester war veteran Bill Clements.
Known as ‘Barton Billy’, Bill Clements was a familiar figure on the streets of Barton, often seen by the doctors’ surgery or All Saints Church or part way up Victoria Street, in decades gone by. He was looked after by local traders and residents who would talk to him and give him food, drink and clothing. Bill died in March 1995.
Bill was a prisoner of war of the Japanese who on release slept rough, because his experiences in the PoW camps had left him afraid of enclosed spaces – even his own home. He was forced to do slave labour in the camps and returned to the UK a broken man, even losing the power of speech.
Bill, who had joined the 3rd The King’s Own Hussars before the war, returned to Gloucester in 1945 with a head injury and as an emaciated shadow of his former self. He turned to drink and wandered the city streets by day and night.
Bill recently featured in a book by local authors Matt Cass and Paul James, called ‘100 Gloucester Characters’. When they posted about him on social media, they were struck by the number of comments and the huge affection there is for Bill. A number of people wanted to know his resting place so they could pay their respects. With the help of the City Council’s crematorium team, they established that Bill was cremated and his ashes scattered on his family’s grave in the Old Cemetery at Tredworth.
With the help of the crematorium team, they located the grave, but there is nothing to mark where it is. Following a number of comments from people that they would be willing to contribute towards a memorial, Matt and Paul have now launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £1000 to put a proper memorial at Bill’s resting place. You can find details at: https://tinyurl.com/BartonBilly.
They have liaised with local monumental masons, F J Cambridge & Co Ltd on Stroud Road, who will make the memorial. The wording for the memorial has been checked with the Far East Prisoners of War Charity and Bill’s regiment. Matt and Paul hope that the memorial will be in place in the Spring of 2026 and a ceremony will be held to unveil it.
Matt Cass said, “When we realised that there was nothing to mark Bill’s resting place, we wanted to put that right. What he went through was horrific and it’s only fitting that an appropriate memorial is put in place to recognise the huge sacrifice he made.”
Paul James added, “We didn’t know Bill ourselves, but his name was mentioned when we asked for ideas of who should be included in our book. So many people commented with their memories of him, so we researched his life. It’s a heartbreaking story and providing a memorial for him is a small gesture compared with what he endured.”