Pte 17806 William Clarke

William Clarke was born in Tiverton, Cheshire, in 1893, the eldest son of Harry Clarke and his wife Emma (née Mathews). His father was born in Tarporley, Cheshire, and his mother in  Llanfynydd, Flintshire (Wrexham).  They married in 1890 and had ten children, but only nine are found on censuses:  Charlotte, William, Mabel, James, Eleanor, Arthur, Charles, Joseph, and John.

 

In 1901 the family is living at Brasses Green, Tiverton. His father is listed as an ordinary agricultural labourer. Charlotte is 9, William 7, Mabel 5, James 3, and Eleanor 2.

 

In 1911 his parents with the younger children are living at 10 Elm Tree Cottages, Huxley. His father, 44, is a labourer in the bone works, his mother is 45, Nelly is 12, Arthur, 10, Charles 7, Joseph 5, John 2.  Also boarder Mahon Johnson, 73, a farm Labourer.   The older children, Charlotte, William, Mabel, and James, are not listed in the household. There is one possible entry for William, an 18-year old employed as a cowman on the farm of Samuel and Annie Heaton, in Plumbley (20 miles to the northeast of Huxley).

 

William enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 4th September 1914, No.2 Company, 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, as Private 17806, giving his age as 21 years and 4 days, and his occupation as warehouseman (on another page his occupation is shown as farm labourer).  He is described as being 5’ 5 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 130 lbs, with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair, and a large scar on the outside of his right thigh. He gives his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his father Harry Clarke, Huxley, near Chester.

 

William was declared Missing on 1st September 1918, and subsequently declared killed in action.  Based on his enlistment age, he had just turned 25.  

 

William now rest at Ecoust-St. Mein British Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

 

Ecoust-St. Mein was captured by the 8th and 9th Devons in a blizzard on 02nd April 1917, lost on 21 March 1918, and retaken at the end of the following August by the 3rd Division. The British Cemetery was then made, in continuation of a German Extension (now removed) of the communal cemetery. The cemetery contains 151 burials of the First World War, eight of which are unidentified. The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.

 

 

William served four years in the Army. He earned his three medals.

 

His parents received his effects, including a War Gratuity of £19, and a pension of 5/- a week from 29/9/1921.

 

William’s name is sadly not found on local Cheshire memorials.