Major-General R.A.P. Clements was born on 9 February 1855.
He enrolled in the British Army late in 1874 and saw action in South Africa during the Anglo-Zulu Wars 1877-1879.
During the South African War 1899-1902, Clements was active in the Brandwater basin but is best known for the British defeat at the Battle of Nooitgedacht.