Pte 33720 William Clarke

• Age: 21
• From: Norbury, Salop
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 19th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert William Clarke was born in late 1895 in Norbury, Salop and was the first son of William and Mary Ann (née Taylor) Clarke. They had another son, John, in the June quarter of 1901. The only marriage record for Mary Ann Taylor and William Clarke is in 1895 in Mansfield.  

His mother Mary Ann Clarke is found on the 1901 Census at Minton’s Batch, Myndtown, Salop, where she is a visiting her mother Hannah Taylor. Mary is aged 28, still married, and born in Church Stretton. The head of the family is Hannah Taylor, aged 58, also born Church Stretton, with her children Joshua aged 26, and Hannah aged 24. Most importantly there is a grandson present, Robert William Clarcke(?) aged 5, born Norbury. This is undoubtedly our William Clarke.   

His mother Mary Ann Clarke is found on the 1901 Census at Minton’s Batch, Myndtown, Salop, where she is a visiting her mother Hannah Taylor. Mary is aged 28, still married, and born in Church Stretton. The head of the family is Hannah Taylor, aged 58, also born Church Stretton, with her children Joshua aged 26, and Hannah aged 24. Most importantly there is a grandson present, Robert William Clarcke(?) aged 5, born Norbury. This is undoubtedly our William Clarke.  

His father William must have died shortly after the census as his mother remarried to John Price in late 1902, the marriage registered in Church Stretton.

On the 1911 Census still at Minton’s Batch, step-father John Price is aged 51, a labourer born in Clunbury, Salop, mother Mary Ann is aged 38, her son John Clarke is aged 9, Mary Ann Price 8, Charles 5, Francis 2, and James 1 month. William, aged 15, was working as a groom at Haimwood Farm, Llandrinio, Montgomeryshire. 

He enlisted in Leominster, Herefordshire and originally served as Private 19064, Shropshire Light Infantry. He was transferred as Private No 33720 to the 2nd Garrison Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, who were deployed to Egypt. After 6 months they returned to France in June 1916 for the Somme Offensive. Following another transfer he was serving in the 18th Battalion when he was killed in action on the 19th October 1916, aged 21, during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges.

18th Battn. War Diary – failed attack, wet weather, low morale, rifles inoperable by mud.  

GOOSE ALLEY

16.10.16 - Moved to support trenches West of GOOSE ALLEY.

17.10.16 - Moved to assembly trenches. 

18.10.16 - Attacked German trenches commencing 3 40 a.m. (account attached, also orders) 

19.10.16 - Relieved by 19th Manchester Regiment - took up position in support Battalion trenches West of GOOSE ALLEY.

20.10.16 - Relieved 2nd Yorkshire Regiment in frontline trenches - weather wet. 

21.10.16 - In trenches - weather very wet and cold. Frost at night 

22.10.16 - Relieved by 55th Australian Regiment in trenches. Proceeded to POMMERS redoubt to bivouac. 

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, 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.”

His name appeared among the rank and file Killed in the Birmingham Daily Post on 29th November 1916: 

King’s (L’pool R.) - Clarke, 33720, W. (Salop); Mannion, 53196, S. (Wednesfield);

William earned his two medals.

Soldiers Effects, Army pay £2 18s 9d, and War Gratuity of £3 went to his Aunt Emma Spencer.  A pension of 3/- was awarded to his grandmother Mrs Hannah Taylor, Ridgeway, Ashton-On-Clun, Salop.

On the 1921 Census his mother and family are living at 5, Park Lane Passage in Tipton, Staffordshire. Step-father John Price is aged 63, a horse driver on roads, Mary Ann is aged 49, her son John Clarke from first marriage is aged 20, also a horse driver, children from current marriage are Charles 15 at school, Francis 12 at school, James 10 at school, George 7 at school, and Joyce 3. 

His mother, Mary Ann, died aged 76, in the December quarter of 1947. 

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