Name
Sidney Thomas Clarke
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/09/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
4983
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
III. B. 28.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE
UK & Other Memorials
Holy Trinity Church Wall Memorial, Potten End, Not on the Little Heath memorials, Not on the Great Gaddesden memorials
Pre War
Sidney Thomas Clarke was born in 1895 in Great Gaddesden, Herts, the son of Arthur and Caroline (Carrie) Clarke, of Little Heath Farm, Northchurch, Berkhamsted.
On the 1901 Census, the family were living at Little Heath Farm where his father was the Farmer. They remained there in 1911 at which time Sidney was working on the farm with his father.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in St Albans and served in France from 23 June 1915 with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles. He had formerly served with a Reserve Cavalry Regiment under Reg. No. 12632.
He was killed in action at Hooge, Ypres, Belgium on 25 September 1915 and is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
The Royal Irish Rifles were situated in trenches at Hooge to the east of Ypres and occupied positions in front of Bellewaerde Lake. For the previous 6 days the German line had been subjected to artillery barrage and attack as part of the diversions to the forthcoming offensive at Loos which was due to open on 25th September, but the barrage failed to cut the barbed wire which remained largely intact. Conditions were poor with shell holes full of water from considerable rainfall and constant German machine gun fire, which resulted in little progress being made and considerable casualties.
CWGC lists 90 soldiers from the Royal Irish Rifles who died that day, with many having no known grave and who are named on the Ypres (Menin Gate) and Ploegsteert memorials.
Additional Information
His father, Mr A G Clarke, Little Heath, Berkhamsted, ordered his headstone inscription: "TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE WE LOVE IS NOT TO DIE". A pension of 5 shillings a week (later raised to 6 shillings 8 pence) was awarded to his dependant, Miss Dora K W Rance of 10 Potten End. Berkhamsted, the guardian of his illegitimate child. His father received a war gratuity of £4 and pay owing of £5 1s 3d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage, org.uk., hemelatwar.org.
