Name
Joseph Clarke
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/07/1916
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/6796
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Sawbridgeworth Town Memorial, Great St Mary’s Church Memorial, Sawbridgeworth
Pre War
Joseph was born on the 5th February 1890 in Sawbridgeworth, Herts. The son of Richard and Elizabeth Clarke. He was one of 10 children and was baptised on the 1st June 1890, in Sawbridgeworth. Census records reveal that in 1891 Joseph was aged 1 and living with his parents, 6 brothers and sister Ellen, in Sheering Mill Lane, Sawbridgeworth, Herts. and in 1901 they were in the same location, but the family living there now consisted of Joseph, his parents, 3 brothers and 3 sisters. By 1911 Joseph, then aged 21, was single and now living with his parents, 2 brothers and 2 sisters at 19 Sheering Mill Road, Sawbridgeworth. His occupation is given as a Builders General Labourer. However, by 1914, he was working at the Lawrence Joinery and lived at 10 Springhall Road.
Wartime Service
In 1914, Joseph volunteered for service and joined the 12th Battalion Middlesex Regiment. This was a ‘Kitchener’ Service Battalion. After training in Essex and Salisbury Plain, the Battalion landed at Le Havre in France on the 25 July 1915.
After serving in ‘quiet’ areas, in 1916 the Battalion was moved to the Somme. On 13 July 1916, the 12th Middlesex was heavily involved in the confused and chaotic fighting for Trones Wood. Although largely destroyed by artillery, the remains of this Wood were still a major impediment to both sides in the battle, and many soldiers simply ‘disappeared’ in the tangled debris. One of those was Joseph Clarke. He has no known grave. He was aged 26.
The local paper reported his death as “Of the Middlesex Regiment, killed in action. The deceased soldier is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Clarke, of 10 Springhall Road, Sawbridgeworth, and was 26 years of age. He was a native of that town, and had lived there all his life, while some for years he was employed at Messrs Lawrence’s Joinery Works. He joined the Middlesex Regiment soon after the outbreak of war and had been at the Front about twelve-months.”
Additional Information
Joseph was the youngest of five brothers who served. The CWGC records, recorded after his death, confirm his mother as Mrs. Elizabeth Clarke and her address as 10 Spring Hall Rd., Sawbridgeworth, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, David Harvey - Leventhorpe School Stuart Osborne, Douglas Coe
