Clarence embodied in the Yorkshire Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance Reserves, Territorial Force on 9th November 1914, his service number was 116. He was promoted to a.Cpl on 17th February 1915. On 24th March 1917, Clarence transferred to serve with the 341st Field Ambulance and then transferred to the Regular Army two months later, on 15th May, he service number then changed to 67788. Clarence gained further promotion to a.Sjt with pay on 9th June 1917. He had a short spell in hospital from 25th May - 1st June 1918 suffering with influenza. He was on board RMS Leinster when it was torpedoed, his death was accepted on lapse of time by the War Office on 25th February 1919. Clarence was the son of Edwin James and Florence McDermid; and the husband of Janet Muriel Hemsworth Smillie (formerly McDermid), of 7 North Claremont Street, Glasgow. [Information sources: CWGC, Soldiers Died and Clarence's service record (List of R.M.S. Leinster casualties kindly provided by Philip Lecane)]