Name
Charles Clark
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/04/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
13266
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial
St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End, Nr Rickmansworth
Pre War
Charles was baptised on the 12th of May 1889 in Rickmansworth, the son of Frederick, a Labourer, and Elizabeth, a Mill Hand.
In 1891 the family, including 5 children, was living at Island Bridge Court, Church Street, Rickmansworth. In 1901 they were still in Church Street, but at Marble Arch, although Charles was not with them as, age 12, he was an Inmate/Truant at the Schools Institution, Lichfield St Chad, Staffordshire.
By 1911 he had joined the army and was a private in 2nd Battalion, the Bedfordshire Regiment stationed at Prospect Barracks, Bermuda. They had previously been in Gibraltar and in 1912 moved to South Africa. On the outbreak of war the Battalion was immediately recalled to England and after refitting for European warfare landed at Zeebrugge on the 7th of October 1914. It is not known when Charles transferred to 1st Battalion.
Recorded as enlisting in Marylebone, London.
Wartime Service
At the beginning of the war 1st Battalion was composed almost entirely of regular soldiers and landed in France on the 16th of August 1914 as part of 15th Infantry Brigade 5th Division.
They were into action immediately, first at the Battle of Mons, then at Le Cateau and the battles of the Marne and the Aisne. They were then rushed north to Flanders where they fought at La Bassec and the First Battle of Ypres. By the end of November the Division had suffered over 5000 casualties.
Throughout 1915 and 1916 the Division was constantly in action. On the 20th of April 1917 1 st Battalion was in the Zouave Valley area and on the 23rd attacked La Coulotte during the Battle of Arras. Charles was among the casualties that day which totalled 11 officers and 320 other ranks.
Acknowledgments
Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
