Name
John Thomas Clark
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/06/1916
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Leading Stoker
293802
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Proserpine."
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BASRA WAR CEMETERY
VI. O. 8.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt memorials *1
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Mary Jane Clark, of Goff's Oak, Waltham Cross, Herts.
Wartime Service
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Served on H.M.S. "Proserpine."
HMS Proserpine was a Pelorus-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. While well armed for their size, they were primarily workhorses for the overseas fleet on "police" duties and did not serve with the main battlefleet.
Was in the Mediterranean from 1913 she returned to the United Kingdom and joined the 3rd Fleet 1913–14 and the 7th Channel Cruiser Squadron 1914. Sent to the Mediterranean, East Indies and Egypt 1914-18 and finally the Red Sea 1918 to blockade Somalia, and gun running prevention in the Persian Gulf.
John died in Basrah.
Additional Information
*1 John is also commemorated on his mother’s (Mary Jane Clark) headstone, in Cheshunt Burial Ground, his inscription reads:
“. . . ALSO OUR DEAR BROTHER JOHN THOMAS CLARK, OF HMS PROSERPINE, WHO DIED DOING HIS DUTY AT BASRAH JUNE 19TH 1916 AGED 35 YEARS GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.”
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
