Clem Bassett-Smith

Ancestors

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andrew Bassett-Smith [send private message]

Biography

2nd Lieut 28th Battalion, London Regiment, Artists Rifles

Lived in... London, Kyabram and Cobram Vic & Tocumwal NSW

Died, and Buried Tocumwal, NSW, Australia - His and Muriel's graves are reversed facing where they lived and the Murray River which bordered their farm

Electoral Roll, 1924 - lived in Temperley, Kyabram, Victoria, Australia

Electoral Roll, 1931 - lived in Temperley, Kyabram, Victoria, Australia

Electoral Roll, 1936 - lived in Temperley, Kyabram, Victoria, Australia

Electoral Roll, 1937 - lived in Temperley, Kyabram, Victoria, Australia

Electoral Roll, 1949 - lived in Cobram, Victoria, Australia

Electoral Roll, 1954 - lived in Cobram, Victoria, Australia

In the late 1970's, Clem was asked by his brother Peter to come see him. Peter had a visitor who had didnt speak English, but Clem spoke fluent Spanish (he was born and raised in Argentina)

During the discussion, he made mention of being in Spain. Peter asked "When were you in Spain ?". Clem thought for a few moments and said, I guess the WWI secrecy act has well and truly expired, and began his story.

He spoke fluent Spanish since he spent his early childhood in Argentina before his mother returned to England with the children for a better education and to avoid growing problems in Argentina.

In WWI he was involved in helping the spy agencies and was transported by Fishing Vessel off the coast of Spain. Then picked up by an early submarine, brought closer to shore, where he was then put on a local fishing vessel, and brought ashore. He worked on the wharves helping load and unload ships, occasionally returning to England via the same method.

Back home, he was "very ill". And his mother visited him in hospital, though he was regularly transported to other hospitals for examinations and treatments. So it was only on occasion his mother actually saw him.

On one trip to the wharves, whilst unloading a boat delivering chocolate from South America, a crate fell from the crane and smashed on the ground. Since Clem didnt smoke, he pocketed a few pieces to have at the smoko break. When he later tried to bite into one, he was surprised (and sore) to find a hard inner centre. It was actually munitions metal.

The chocolate was destined for Germany, and this was a major supply line of munitions metal for the Germans in the latter part of WWI - they were reliant on importing metal from somewhere not having much of a local supply.

The route was shut down once he reported his findings back to the command in England.^[1]

Clement William Herbert BASSETT-SMITH's marriage to Muriel Vere CARTER was in 1924.^[2]

Clement William Herbert BASSETT-SMITH's death occurred in Tocumwal in 1987. His parents were Walter and Mary Chevallier.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ As reported by his sister-in-law to Andrew Bassett-Smith
2. ↑ Marriage Index (Victoria Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 1 Aug 2023)
   Index entry for Clement William Herbert BASSETT-SMITH
   and Muriel Vere CARTER
   Year : 1924, Reg. Number : 741
3. ↑ Death Index (NSW Registry of Births Deaths & Marriages : accessed 1 Aug 2023)
   Index entry for Clement William Herbert BASSETT-SMITH
   Parents : Walter and Mary Chevallier
   Death Place : Tocumwal
   Year : 1987
   Reg. Number : 12394

• First hand knowledge - grandfather of Andrew Bassett-Smith
• Also found on Cobbold Family Tree at [1] and [2]