Pte 22954 John Clark

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Clark was born in Liverpool in 1897, the sixth of seven children and the youngest son of Charles Clark and his wife Ellen (nee Kearns according to her marriage certificate, which she signed with a cross, indicating that she was illiterate, but the children's birth registrations show her maiden name mostly as Cearns), who married in St Peter's Church, Liverpool on the 2nd December 1883. Charles was a 21 year old hireman? of Park Lane, father William a labourer, whilst Ellen was aged 21 also of Park Lane, father William Kearns a coppersmith. John was baptised on 16th May 1897 in St. Athanasius, Kirkdale. 

At the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at 107 Salisbury Road, Liverpool.

Charles was a foreman boiler cleaner and was 38 years old. Ellen was also 38. They have seven children who are still living at the address at the time of the Census, William who was 16 and an apprentice fitter, Ellen who was 14, James 11, Charles 7, Margaret (known as Dolly) 6, John 3 and Annie (known as Nancy) who was 2 years old. All the family were born in Liverpool.

By the 1911 census the family had moved to 34 Wenlock Road, Liverpool.

Charles is recorded as a ships cementer in marine engineering, his wife Ellen was at home and has no occupation listed. They have been married for 27 years and have seven children. Their eldest son William had moved away but six of their seven children were still living at home: Ellen aged 25, John 14, and Annie (Nancy) 12 were at home, James 21, and Charles 18, were marine engineers,  Margaret (Dolly) 16 was a milliners apprentice.

He was educated at Granton Road School, Anfield where he was the champion swimmer. He was employed by Grayson's Ltd (Ship Repairer's)

John enlisted in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private 22954 on the 10th November 1914 declaring himself to be 19 years and 7 months, but he was  only 17. He gave his occupation as carpenter and his attestation papers show him to have been described as 5ft 5½, weighing 135lbs, 36” chest, with a sallow complexion and brown hair and eyes. He gave his next of kin as his father Charles, 70 Pendennis Rd, Anfield, and religion Church of England.  

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On the 21st April he was given 3 days C.B. for improper conduct. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7th November 1915.

John was killed in action on the 30th July 1916, aged 19, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone. 

John's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 21st August 1916:

"Private John Clark, "Pals", was 19 years of age and resided at 70, Pendennis Street, Anfield. He was employed at Grayson's, Ltd."

"July 30, killed in action, aged 19 years, Private John Clark (Pals).  His duty well done.  Gone, but not forgotten. - From his sorrowing Mother, Father, Sisters, and Brothers."

"July 30, aged 19 years, Private John Clark (Pals), beloved youngest brother of D. Oversby, School Lodge, Liscard."   

John's death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on 26th August 1916:

"Private John Clark, aged nineteen of the King's Liverpool Regiment was killed in action July 30. He was a brother of Mrs.W.Oversby, of the School Lodge, Liscard. He was champion swimmer at Granton Road school, Anfield".

Liverpool Daily Post - Saturday 09 September 1916 

Killed. 

King’s (Liverpools) - Clark, 22954, J. (Liverpool); 

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death".

The CWGC record gives his age as 20.


His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his father Charles. In February 1917, by which time his parents were living in 91 Celt Street, his mother was awarded a gratuity in lieu of a pension.  The pension ledger shows an award, amount unknown, in 1923, after his father's death.

His brother James died at the age of 25 just a few months after John's death, at Christmastime 1916.  His occupation was listed as driver on the Anfield Cemetery burial record; no service record or CWGC entry has been found for James.

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading Lost At The Battle of Guillemont, his family paid tribute to John:

“In loving memory of Private John Clark (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916, aged 20 years. We have lost, heaven has gained, One of the best the world contained. Deeply mourned by his Father, Mother, and Family".

“In loving memory of my dear brother, Private J. Clark (K.L.R.), who was killed in action July 30, 1916, aged 19 years. (To know him was to love him.) – From his Brother Will and Rose.

“In loving memory of Pte. John Clark (Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916.

He nobly rose to his country’s call,

He gave his best, his life, his all.

Ever remembered by his Sister Dollie.”

John was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

In sad but loving memory of my dear son John (Pals), killed in action, July 30, 1916

   Our great sorrow none can tell,

   To part with him we love so well.

Sadly missed and ever remembered by his Mother, Father, and Family. 

In loving memory of John, killed in action July 30, 1916. (To memory ever dear.) - Lovingly remembered by Dolly.

His brother Charles attested in May 1917 and served as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways & Docks. He was classified B.1 (flat feet) and served with the B.E.F. from July to August 1917. He returned to the U.K., and was discharged in December 1918 with a Silver War Badge and a pension of 8/3d a week.

Dolly's husband William Oversby enlisted in February 1915 and served as a Gunner/Signaller in the Royal Field Artillery.  He was wounded in late 1917 and discharged in March 1919 with a Silver War Badge and a disability pension.

In 1919 his parents were still in Celt Street with William, 33, Ellen 32, Charles, 26, and Nancy, 20. Dolly, 24, lived in Liscard, Cheshire.

John is commemorated in Liverpool's Hall of Remembrance, Panel 11 Right.

His father died in 1922 aged 59, family trees have a death date of 8th May 1922. He is strangely on the electoral roll at 91 Celt Street until 1925 as Clarke, then just Ellen is present in 1926. 

His mother died on the 6th February 1932 aged 72. 

Liverpool Daily Post - Wednesday 10 February 1932 

CLARK — February 6, at her residence, 91 Celt-street, ELLEN, the widow of the late Charles Clark. Interment at Anfield Cemetery, today (Wednesday), at 3 p.m. 

We currently have no further information on John Clark, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.