James Cleminson
Encyclopedia
Sir James Arnold Stacey Cleminson, KBE
, MC
(31 August 1921 – 14 September 2010) was a prominent British soldier and businessman, was decorated for his service during the Battle of Arnhem
after fighting in the North African Campaign
and escaping while a prisoner of war
in the Italian Campaign
during the Second World War. He subsequently became a chief executive of Colman's
and entered the Confederation of British Industry
, becoming its president in 1984.
Cleminson was born in 1921 in Hull
to businessman Arnold Cleminson and his wife Dr Florence Stacey-Cleminson, a physician at Victoria Children’s Hospital. Clemison attended Rugby School
and was drafted for war service in 1940 immediately after leaving. He fought in the North African Campaign
and was captured, being taken to Italy
as a prisoner of war
. There he escaped and walked through enemy lines to rejoin his regiment during the Italian Campaign
. He subsequently joined the Parachute Regiment as a captain and participated in the Battle of Arnhem
, where his platoon ambushed and killed the German garrison commander Major-General Friedrich Kussin. During the fighting, Cleminson found himself trapped in an attic with Major-General Roy Urquhart
, who took exception to Cleminson's moustache, which he called "damned silly". For three days he fought in the village of Oosterbeek
, until he was wounded and captured. For his defence of the perimeter, Cleminson was awarded the Military Cross
and was later featured in the film A Bridge Too Far, played by Michael Graham Cox
.
In early 1945, Cleminson was freed by American forces, and accompanied Urquhart to Norway
at the end of the conflict. On demobilisation in 1946, Cleminson joined his father's firm, which had merged with J. J. Colman to form Reckitt & Colman. The company produced a wide array of household goods, and Cleminson rose rapidly in the food division, known as Colman's
, until by 1973 he was chief executive and in 1976 he became chairman. In 1980 he also took a position with the Confederation of British Industry
, which was suffering severely due to the effects of the 1973–75 recession
. He remained there until 1986, spending the last two years as president, before retiring from both positions to become chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.
In retirement, Cleminson held a number of chairman and board positions and was particularly active in Norfolk
, where he was instrumental in the revitalisation of the Theatre Royal, Norwich
. For his services to business, Cleminson was knighted
in 1982 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990. Cleminson was also a keen sportsman throughout his life and on his death in September 2010 was survived by his wife Judy and three children. He is buried in the graveyard of Barsham church in Suffolk.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(31 August 1921 – 14 September 2010) was a prominent British soldier and businessman, was decorated for his service during the Battle of Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
after fighting in the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and escaping while a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
during the Second World War. He subsequently became a chief executive of Colman's
Colman's
Colman's is a UK manufacturer of mustard and various other sauces, based at Carrow, in Norwich, Norfolk. Presently an operational division of the multinational Unilever company, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all varieties of...
and entered the Confederation of British Industry
Confederation of British Industry
The Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
, becoming its president in 1984.
Cleminson was born in 1921 in Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
to businessman Arnold Cleminson and his wife Dr Florence Stacey-Cleminson, a physician at Victoria Children’s Hospital. Clemison attended Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and was drafted for war service in 1940 immediately after leaving. He fought in the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
and was captured, being taken to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. There he escaped and walked through enemy lines to rejoin his regiment during the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. He subsequently joined the Parachute Regiment as a captain and participated in the Battle of Arnhem
Battle of Arnhem
The Battle of Arnhem was a famous Second World War military engagement fought in and around the Dutch towns of Arnhem, Oosterbeek, Wolfheze, Driel and the surrounding countryside from 17–26 September 1944....
, where his platoon ambushed and killed the German garrison commander Major-General Friedrich Kussin. During the fighting, Cleminson found himself trapped in an attic with Major-General Roy Urquhart
Roy Urquhart
Major General Robert "Roy" Elliott Urquhart, CB, DSO was a British military officer. He became prominent for his role commanding the British 1st Airborne Division during Operation Market Garden.-Early career:...
, who took exception to Cleminson's moustache, which he called "damned silly". For three days he fought in the village of Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek
Oosterbeek is a village in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Renkum, about 5 km west of Arnhem.The oldest part of the village of Oosterbeek is the Benedendorp , on the northern bank of the river Rhine...
, until he was wounded and captured. For his defence of the perimeter, Cleminson was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and was later featured in the film A Bridge Too Far, played by Michael Graham Cox
Michael Graham Cox
Michael Graham Cox was an English actor who voiced Boromir in the 1978 movie The Lord of the Rings, as well as voicing Boromir in the 1981 BBC radio series The Lord of the Rings. He also voiced Bigwig in the feature film Watership Down.Michael had a minor role in Richard Attenborough's A Bridge...
.
In early 1945, Cleminson was freed by American forces, and accompanied Urquhart to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
at the end of the conflict. On demobilisation in 1946, Cleminson joined his father's firm, which had merged with J. J. Colman to form Reckitt & Colman. The company produced a wide array of household goods, and Cleminson rose rapidly in the food division, known as Colman's
Colman's
Colman's is a UK manufacturer of mustard and various other sauces, based at Carrow, in Norwich, Norfolk. Presently an operational division of the multinational Unilever company, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all varieties of...
, until by 1973 he was chief executive and in 1976 he became chairman. In 1980 he also took a position with the Confederation of British Industry
Confederation of British Industry
The Confederation of British Industry is a British not for profit organisation incorporated by Royal charter which promotes the interests of its members, some 200,000 British businesses, a figure which includes some 80% of FTSE 100 companies and around 50% of FTSE 350 companies.-Role:The CBI works...
, which was suffering severely due to the effects of the 1973–75 recession
1973–75 recession
The 1973–75 recession in the United States or 1970s recession was a period of economic stagnation in much of the Western world during the 1970s, putting an end to the general post-World War II economic boom. It differed from many previous recessions as being a stagflation, where high unemployment...
. He remained there until 1986, spending the last two years as president, before retiring from both positions to become chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board.
In retirement, Cleminson held a number of chairman and board positions and was particularly active in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, where he was instrumental in the revitalisation of the Theatre Royal, Norwich
Theatre Royal, Norwich
The Theatre Royal is the largest theatre in Norwich, Norfolk, England. It presents a large range of drama, dance, comedy, music and other entertainment...
. For his services to business, Cleminson was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1982 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1990. Cleminson was also a keen sportsman throughout his life and on his death in September 2010 was survived by his wife Judy and three children. He is buried in the graveyard of Barsham church in Suffolk.