Pte 16512 Daniel Herbert Clarke

• Age: 22
• From: Wavertree, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 11th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Abbeville Cc
  Panel Ref: V.E.7

Pte 16512 Daniel Herbert CLARKE, 18^th Battalion KLR.

Daniel Herbert Clarke was born in Tarleton Street, Liverpool, on 20th November 1893 and baptised in St Peter’s Church, Liverpool on 03rd January 1894. He was the son of Peter Clarke and his wife Annie (nee Hughes). His parents were married 15th March 1891 at St Peters Parish Church, Liverpool.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at  37 Grosvenor Road, Wavertree. Daniel is 7 years of age and is living with his parents and two brothers. His father, Peter, is 33 years of age, born in Liverpool and employed as  a tailor's cutter. His mother Annie is 34 years of age and was born in Ireland. Daniel's brothers, both born in Liverpool are listed as:  Peter A. aged 9 and Arthur aged 5.

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved to 12 Liscard Road, Wavertree. Daniel is 17 years old and is a draper's assistant. He lives with his parents and siblings Peter Alexander a 19 year old shipping clerk and Arthur a 15 year old drapery apprentice. 

On 31^st August 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool, Daniel enlisted in the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16512. He was aged 20 years and 240 days, born in Wavertree, a silk mercer who had served an apprenticeship with Messrs. Herbert Collier of Smithdown Road. He was described as being 5' 7" tall, weighing 147lbs, of fresh complexion with blue eyes and auburn hair. His religion is stated as Church of England.

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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 crossed to France with his Battalion on board the SS Invicta on the 07th November 1915.

In the attack at Montauban on the 01^st July 1916 he sustained a gunshot wound to his thigh and was admitted  to 96 Field Ambulance. He was then transferred to 1/1 South Midland Division Casualty Clearing Station and then on to No. 2 Stationary Hospital in Abbeville by barge arriving on 03rd July 1916. He died of his wounds in the hospital on the 11^th July 1916.

The 18^th Battalion Diary gives an accurate description of the events of the day when Daniel was wounded:

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

Daniel now rests at  Abbeville Communal Cemetery where his headstone bears the inscription:

"GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAT LAYETH DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS" 

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916. During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. 

On the 11^th July a letter was received from his father, Peter, living at 137 Salisbury Road, Wavertree, asking for more news of the nature of his son’s wounds and how he was progressing. A reply was sent on 12^th July but there is no copy on his file.

Daniel’s death was reported in the following newspapers:

Liverpool Echo 15th July 1916

DIED FROM WOUNDS - CLARKE - Died from wounds received in action age 23, Daniel Herbert Clarke (Dan), Pals, second beloved son of Peter and Annie Clarke, 137 Salisbury Road, Wavertree. Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friends.

Liverpool Echo 17th July 1916

DIED FROM WOUNDS - CLARKE - Died for wounds age 22, Daniel Herbert Clarke (Dan) (Pals) (Fondly remembered by his fiancée Marie) 14 Ashfield, Wavertree.

Reported died of wounds in the Liverpool Daily Post 7th Aug 1916

- Clarke 16512 D. (Liverpool) 

Daniel is commemorated on the war memorial in St Thomas Parish Church, Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool. 

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