NEDIGER, Clarence Austin

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Clinton, Ontario
Original Unit
161st Huron Battalion
Regimental Number
654342
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
19 years 11 months
Cemetery
Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery - Somme - France
Cenotaph
Clinton Cenotaph
Clinton Legion Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - West Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654342
RESIDENCE:                    Clinton – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            September 10, 1898
                                             Wiarton – Bruce County - Ontario
DATE OF DEATH:           August 21, 1918                  19 years     11 months
CEMETERY:                     Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery – Villers-Bretonneux –
                                             Somme – France
                                             VIII     BB     10
PARENTS:                         Mr. William and Margaret Nediger – Clinton - Ontario
Occupation:                        Drug Clerk                           Religion:     Methodist
Enlistment:                         Clinton – January 28, 1916 – 161st Huron Battalion
Enlistment Age:                 17 years     6 months

The S.S. Lapland with the 161st embarked from Canada and on November 11, 1916 arrived overseas in Liverpool.
On March 8, 1918, he transfers to the 47th Battalion, goes overseas into France and on March 14, 1918 joins his unit.
Private Nediger was seriously wounded by enemy machine-gun fire during an engagement at Fouquescourt. His wounds would prove to be fatal and those wounds were in his arm, neck and legs. This happened on August 10th and he survived for another eleven days at No. 48 Casualty Clearing station.
The 47th Battalion advanced in support of the 44th Battalion.
“A” & “B” Companies - right / left assault with “B” & “D” Companies right / left support.
The advance moved forward at 10:15 am and there was an immediate heavy enemy artillery barrage and as they moved forward they came under heavy machine-gun fire and it here the advance stalled.
“A” Company advanced, made contact with the enemy and engaged. With the support of the 44th Battalion “A” Company rushed the village and then set up defensive lines.
“C” Company had found itself engaged with the enemy and were taking machine-gun fire and they leap-frogged the 44th Battalion and advanced until forced to stop.
The enemy at this point was still holding out and the Battalion decided to consolidate in Memalars Trench.