Presentation watch fob : Private Roy Alexander McClymont, 12 Battalion, AIF Accession Number: REL49886

Description

9 carat gold watch fob presented to Private Roy Alexander McClymont on his return to Australia from the First World War.
Obverse features a map of Tasmania with a soldier at attention below.
Reverse is engraved with the inscription 'From RAMINEA AND STRATHBLANE Private R. A. McClymont A.I.F Served in the GREAT WAR 1916-17'.
Watch fob has been changed into a brooch.

Contextual Description

Presented to 6313 Private Roy Alexander McClymont, a sawmill hand of Raminea, Tasmania who enlisted on 1 June 1916 at Claremont, aged 22.

He embarked for service arriving in England in October 1916 and underwent training at Fovant. He never left England, having been diagnosed with a variety of disorders, and spending the majority of his time in hospital. He was declared unfit for service (‘flat feet and debility’) and was returned to Australia on 22 July 1917 and discharged on 6 November.

Upon his return to his home town he was presented with this watch fob. The Huon Times of 19 October 1917 reported that “a welcome home concert and social was tendered to Private Roy McClymont who has been invalided home from England...The Raminea Brass Band... played several selections in their usual excellent style. The chairman, Mr David Purves ... said that the young soldier, although he had not actually been to the firing line, had proved his courage by volunteering to fight…by running the risk of being torpedoed or mined and by enduring the discomforts of camp life. Through an accident, not his fault, he had been rendered unable to go to the front... and he was therefore as much entitled to our thanks as if he had actually been in the trenches. Private McClymont suitable replied.”