Raymond Cleare trained as an accountant and was in the ranks of the Territorial Army.
He was commissioned 21 Sep 1940. He was promoted War Substantive Lieutenant on 21 Mar 1942, most probably around the time he took over the role of Scout Section Officer.
On leaving Auxiliary Units, he joined the 2nd Battalion the Hertfordshire Regiment, which was retraining as part of Number 9 Beach Group. He was second in command of B Company and acting Captain. They landed on D Day on King Sector of Gold Beach. Their job was to secure the landing beach and facilitate the landing of supplies. This was a mixed arms unit including RAF and Royal Marine Commando personnel.
In August 1944, the 2nd Herts were broken up and posted as replacements to other infantry units in Normandy. Lieutenant Cleare died on the 26 Sep 1944 near Eindhoven, aged 34, while attached to 1/7th Queens. This was during fighting to relieve the paratroopers and glider pilots trapped in the Arnhem Bridgehead, including men who had formerly served with several Auxiliary Units Scout sections. He is buried in the Uden War Cemetery.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Norfolk Scout Section | Scout Section Commander | Unknown | 1943 |
| Combined Norfolk Scout Section | Scout Section Commander | 1943 | 1943 |
Accountant
Born in Camberwell, London to Walter and Florence he married Norah Lonsdale in 1939. When he died, probate records his address as 72 South Croxted Road, West Dulwich
