Name
Joseph Clark
Circa 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/09/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7829
Lincolnshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VAILLY BRITISH CEMETERY
II. AA. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Holy Saviour Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, St Faith’s Church, Walsworth
Pre War
Joseph was born around 1890 in Tattershall and his parents were John Robinson and Annie Clarke.
In 1891 the family were living at Market Place, Tattershall, Lincolnshire. Present were parents: John (33) and Annie (31), John and working as an agricultural labourer. Their children were: John T (7), George W (5), Benjamin (4), Robinson (3), Lucy A (2) and Joseph at 8 months.
In 1901 the family were living at Market Place, Tattershall. Present were both parents, With John calling himself Robinson and working as a yardman on farm. The oldest two children were absent, the others listed above were, including Joseph, now 10 years old, plus Elizabeth (8), Esther (7), Susannah (5), Arthur (3), Florence (2) and Fred, just 10 months.
By 1911 Joseph had left the family home, which was still in Tattershall. His parents were recorded as married for 24 years with 12 children all living. Joseph has not been found in the 1911 census and it is though he may have enlisted.
No date has been found but Joseph married Maud who was born on 12 September 1891.
Officially recorded as born and living in Tattershall, Lincs. when he enlisted in Lincoln.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Lincoln and was mobilised at the outbreak of war. He and was in the 1st Battalion of the Regiment. His Regimental Number was 7829 and was probably already a serving soldier, because he died so early in the war.
The 1st Lincolnshires Battalion went to Portsmouth in August and were part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. They landed at Le Havre on 14 August 1914. The brigade was attached to 28th Division between 17 February and 2 April 1915 and then on 14 November 1915 were transferred to 62nd Brigade, 21st Division.
Joseph almost certainly went with them and fought on the Aisne and was killed in action there.
The date of his death coincides with the Battle at the Heights of the Aisne, when the Lincolns crossed the river at Vailly to the east of Soissons and were subjected to heavy artillery fire from the enemy.
He was missing and then reported as killed in action.
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission he was killed on the 15th September 1914. He was buried at Plot 2, Row AA, Grave 7 in the Vailly British Cemetery in France.
Additional Information
There is an unusually high number of pension records for Joseph. This appears to be because he had a brother Benjamin (no relationship to Hertfordshire) who served in the same regiment with the service number 7800, so probab;y joined up with Hospeh, and who was killed on 25 September 1916.
His pension cards record Maud his widow as his next of kin, living at 18 St Michael’s Mount, Walsworth, nr. Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 10s 0d a week from 10 May 1915. A note was added that she was not eligible for a grant.
It is not known when Maud moved to Walsworth and that address was first recorded after his death, and so it is possible that Joseph and no personal connection to Hertfordshire, however he is on the Walsworth and some of Hitchin’s memorials.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
