Name
Joseph Walter Clark
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/02/1919
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
105748
Hertfordshire Yeomanry
"B" Sqdn. 1st/1st
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THORLEY (ST. JAMES THE GREAT) CHURCHYARD
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertfordshire Yeomanry Memorial, St Albans Cathedral, St James’ Church Memorial, Thorley, Working Men’s Club / Village Hall, Memorial, Thorley
Pre War
Son of James Albert and Jane Wybrow Clark, of Chrysantum, Thorley. Born at Thorley. Before joining the Army, Joseph was in the Hertfordshire Constabulary. His home address was Moor Hall Cottages.
Wartime Service
Joseph joined the Army in June 1915 and went to Egypt in October 1915 and then to France, before in early 1917 returning to Egypt and then to Palestine & Syria. Returned home on February 4th 1919 and died of pneumonia following influenza on February 11th 1919. He died at home in Thorley and was buried with military honours in Thorley Churchyard.
The following was taken from a newspaper cutting published in February 1919: 'General sorrow has been caused in Thorley by the death on Tuesday, from pneumonia, of Trooper Joseph Walter Clark, of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, the fourth son of Mr and Mrs James Albert Clark of Moor Hall Cottages, Thorley. The deceased, who was in the Hertfordshire Constabulary before joining the Army, had served abroad in France, Egypt, Palestine and Syria and only returned last week after an absence abroad of over two years.
His eldest brother, Major Charles Clark, M.C., of the Royal field Artillery, was killed in action in France last April; and another brother, Sergeant Albert James Clark, of the Army Veterinary Corps, died last May. The coffin, wrapped in the Union Jack, was carried into the church by a detachment of the Hertfordshire Yeomanry …… who fired three volleys over the grave. The grave was lined with evergreens.'
Additional Information
Four sons served and three were killed: Joseph, James and Charles, with William surviving. Joseph’s grave, the headstone of which is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, can be found in the mid southern section of the churchyard. www.frie
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, John E. I. Procter (Rector of Thorley), Bill Hardy, Philip Hargrave - www.friends-stjames.org, Jonty Wild
