submitted by his niece Del Glazebrook
Private Clement Edward (Clem) Lynne was born in Bathurst on 24th May 1905. He was a much-loved son of Herb and Elizabeth Lynne and loved brother to three sisters: Elsie, Irene and Avis, and one brother, Paul.
As a young lad, Clem spent many hours after school and during school holidays helping in the family market garden and assisting with the flower gardens for their florist shop. He attended St. Patrick’s school in Bathurst and played and enjoyed all sports.
After leaving school, Clem undertook his apprenticeship with a local barber. Once qualified, he moved to Sydney where he bought his own barber shop in Coogee Bay Road. Clem was a very successful businessman. Friends and business colleagues described him as a most loveable character who was highly respected by all who had dealings with him. A thorough sport in every sense of the word, he had many friends in the Randwick area and spent many happy times at Randwick Racecourse.
Although Clem had a successful business and many friends and colleagues, perhaps his greatest joy came when he met and married a Coogee girl, Hazel Geddes. Tragically, Hazel died of an asthma attack only a few short years later.
With the outbreak of WWII in 1939, Clem enlisted in the army. He was posted to the 2/12 Field Ambulance in Cowra and stationed in Darwin for two years. During this time the unit withstood many Japanese air raids. In January 1943 the unit withdrew from Darwin and was billeted in Corrimal NSW awaiting overseas service.
In early May 1943, Clem was granted two weeks leave to visit his family in time for Mother’s Day. He had returned to Sydney to visit his wife’s grave when a telegram arrived at his family home in Bathurst cancelling his leave and advising him that he was required to return to duty immediately to sail on the Centaur. The news could not be communicated to Clem until his return to Bathurst the following day. This time delay meant that Clem’s subsequent return to Sydney was hindered, and Clem missed the first roll call on the Centaur.
It was only days later that the family heard news of the sinking of an Australian hospital ship off the Qld coast. Although the ship was not identified, the family’s greatest fears were that it was the Centaur and that Clem had somehow arrived in time to board. The family still wonder whether Clem arrived in time for the ship’s gangplank to be lowered, or if in fact he was taken out to join the Centaur via a small boat. Sister Ellen Savage and one of the officers later confirmed that Clem was on the Centaur when it was struck.
The family have never forgotten Clem’s sacrifice for our nation; and never gave up the desire that the Centaur be located. Family members (including his sister, niece, grandniece, and great, grandnephew) attended the Point Danger memorial opening in May 1993. Family members also attended the memorial service held in St John’s Cathedral Brisbane on 2nd March 2010, and then laid wreaths at the site of the wreckage on 24th September 2010. Clem will be loved and remembered always by his family and extended family.