An appeal has been initiated to fund a memorial for Gloucester war veteran Bill Clements, affectionately known as ‘Barton Billy’. For decades, Bill was a familiar figure around Barton, often spotted near the doctors’ surgery, All Saints Church, or along Victoria Street.
Local traders and residents looked after Bill, offering food, drink, and clothing. Despite their kindness, Bill lived on the streets until his passing in March 1995.
Bill was a prisoner of war held by the Japanese during World War II. The traumatic experiences he endured in the PoW camps left him terrified of enclosed spaces—so much so that he was unable to sleep inside his own home and instead chose to sleep rough.
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Forced into brutal slave labor, Bill worked on the notorious Burma Railway. When he returned to the UK in 1945, he was a broken man, suffering from a head injury and malnourishment, and had lost the ability to speak. Once a proud member of the 3rd The King’s Own Hussars, Bill struggled with alcoholism and wandered Gloucester’s streets day and night.
Bill’s story recently gained renewed attention in the book ‘100 Gloucester Characters’ by local authors Matt Cass and Paul James. The social media post accompanying the book sparked an outpouring of public affection and many inquiries about Bill’s resting place.
Working closely with the City Council’s crematorium team, Matt and Paul confirmed that Bill was cremated and his ashes scattered at his family’s grave in Gloucester’s Old Cemetery at Tredworth. However, no marker currently denotes the grave’s location.
In response to public interest and generous offers to contribute towards a memorial, Matt and Paul have started a crowdfunding campaign aiming to raise £1,000 to commission a fitting tribute. They have partnered with F J Cambridge & Co Ltd, a local monumental masonry company, to create the memorial.
The memorial’s wording has been approved by the Far East Prisoners of War Charity and Bill’s regiment to ensure it honors his sacrifice appropriately. The goal is to have the memorial installed by Spring 2026, followed by a dedication ceremony.
Matt Cass explained, “Discovering that Bill’s resting place was unmarked moved us to act. His sacrifices were immense, and he deserves to be remembered properly.”
Paul James reflected, “Although we never met Bill, the community’s outpouring of memories brought his story to life. Providing a memorial is just a small acknowledgment in light of the hardships he endured.”