Sergeant William Henry Clendinning, MM

 

William Henry Clendinning was born on 30 June 1888 at Lisbellaw, second of four children of farmer and hotel keeper Robert Clendinning and his wife Margaret (late Black, nee Rutledge).

Clendinning enlisted in the North Irish Horse on 3 or 4 March 1914 (No.916 – later Corps of Hussars No.71157). On 9 February 1915 he embarked for France as part of a small reinforcement draft for A and C Squadrons. Clendinning was posted to A Squadron.

Clendinning remained with the squadron in France and Belgium throughout the war. In early 1919 he was one of a number of North Irish Horsemen awarded a Military Medal for gallantry during the Advance to Victory offensive from August to November 1918.

He was transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve, on 25 February 1919.