Name
George William Henry Clarke
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
84952
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS
VI. F. 23.
France
Headstone Inscription
"AT REST"
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial, Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial Waltham Cross
Pre War
George William Henry Clarke was born in Waltham Abbey, Essex, in 1895, son of William John Clarke a, Warehouseman and Rhoda Emily Clarke (nee Garratt). One of six children although one died in infancy.
1901 Census records George aged 6, living with his parents, sisters Ellen (7), Alice (8 months) and brother John (3) at, 8 South View Cottages, Park Lane, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census records George (16), employed as a Grocers Apprentice, living with his parents and three siblings John (13), Alice (10) and Leonard (8) still at 8 South View Cottages.
Wartime Service
George enlisted at Cheshunt, Herts, on 11th December 1915, posted to the Army Reserve the following day the 12th, due to his reserve occupation, he was employed by The Royal Powder & Small Arms Factory at Enfield, under Exemption Certificate No 11264 & Badge No 13388. His exemption Certificate was withdrawn on the 13th December 1916, and he was mobilized for war service on the 19th December 1916, posted to the Royal Fusiliers with the service number G/52321. In February 1917, he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps with the service number 84952, and sent to Grantham, Lincs for M G, training, from there to Clipstone Army Camp near Mansfield, Notts.
He embarked at Folkstone, Kent, on 11th April 1917, disembarking at Boulogne, France the same day, for service on the Western Front. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 4th May 1918.
He was reported wounded and missing in action on 3rd September 1918, and presumed killed in action on 3rd September 1918.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs. R. E. Clarke, 56 Park Lane, Waltham Cross, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "AT REST". His mother Rhoda received a Dependents Pension of 7/- a week from 29th April 1919, for life. His effects of £16-8s-6d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £7-10s-00d, went to his father William Clarke. His military records and the CWGC, records him as George Henry William Clarke, all other records and Memorials, he is George William Henry Clarke.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
