From the ‘Whitehaven News’ 14 October 1915: KILLED IN ACTION Killed in action at Armentiers, about October 3rd., Lance Corporal Clem Mossop, 6th Border Regiment, eldest son of the late James Mossop and M.A. Mossop, Lowther Arms, Sandwith, aged 24 years. Ever Remembered by Mother and Sisters Abroad He died a true-hearted soldier, The flag he died to save; The flag he nobly died fighting for, He is laid in a soldier’s grave. from the ‘Whitehaven News’ 5 October 1916: In Memoriam – MOSSOP In Loving Memory of Lance-Corporal Clem Mossop, 5th Border Regiment, eldest son of M.A. and the late James Mossop, Sandwith, killed in action October 3rd. 1915, aged 24 years. Ever Remembered by Mother and Sisters at Home and Abroad, and Brother on Active Service. He marched away so proudly, his young head proudly held, His footsteps never faltered, his courage never failed; Then on the field of battle he calmly took his place, He fought and died for Britain, and the honour of his race. Clement Mossop is mentioned twice in the 1924 publication “THE BORDER REGIMENT IN THE GREAT WAR” by Colonel H.C.Wylly, C.B.

On page 39, describing an event near Hooge on 16th June 1915: “The attack was successful, and a fine action was performed by an officer and a private soldier of the Battalion. An officer and a corporal of the Royal Engineers had occasion to go across some open ground in rear of the British lines when the enemy opened machine gun fire upon them, and the officer was almost at once killed, and the corporal was wounded. Upon seeing this, Captain R. R. Blair and No. 1194 Private C. Mossop, of “A” Company, at once went out and brought them in to the cover of a ditch, being throughout exposed to the enemy’s fire.”

On page 68, about an action at Armentieres, on the night late in September 1915: “In pursuance of orders to display all possible activity, patrols and bombing parties were sent out towards the German lines. One of these parties – under Captain Blair, with Lance-Sergeants Tiffen and Graham, Lance Corporal Mossop, Privates Lofthouse, Ball, Coles, Walker, Harker, Rooney and Farish – went out to bomb an enemy listening post, met and ambushed a German patrol and practically annihilated it, bringing in one of the enemy dead for identification purposes.”

(Captain Robert Blair, of Richmond Hill, Whitehaven was the Commander of “A” Company. Like Clement Mossop, he was a Territorial, and had been in action in France or Belgium since October 1914. He was killed on the Somme in July 1916, by which time he had been awarded a D.S.O. See earlier on this page for particulars of Private Ball).

Other information – 1901 census:

Clement Mossop would have been 10 or 11 at the date of the 1901 Census. He was not sleeping at home (Lowther Arms, Sandwith) on Census night. His father, James Mossop, who was 45, gave his occupation as Innkeeper and Labourer; his mother Mary was 37. James Mossop had been born in Arlecdon, and his wife in Distington. At home on Census night were two sisters older than Clement, and a brother and sister younger. Reference 1901 Census: Folio 116 p.6