Name
Thomas William Clarke
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
53925
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
29th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POELCAPELLE BRITISH CEMETERY
Plot XXX, Row E, Grave 13.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Thomas and Mary Ann (nee DYER) CLARKE; husband of Edith (nee GREGORY) CLARKE.
His parents married 1 June 1886 in Portsea, Hants. Thomas died 1894 in the South Stoneham, Hants, district aged 26 or 1912 in the Portsmouth, Hants, district aged 45.
Thomas was born 1886 in Sandown, Isle of Wight, and married 1915 in the Watford district.
On the 1891 Census, aged 5 he lived in Portsea, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 14 he lived in Sandown, with his mother and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, a butcher aged 25, he still lived in Sandown, with his mother and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford 6 June 1916: a butcher aged 31, 5’2½” tall, C of E, next-of-kin his wife of Watford. He was formerly Private G/16498 3rd Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment, joining the Machine Gun Corps 15 July 1916. He embarked from Folkestone and disembarked Boulogne 24 October 1916. He was admitted to no. 13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne 9 March 1917, and was in Sharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield, from 17 March to 14 April 1917 suffering from bronchitis and burns; he was granted leave from 14 to 23 April 1917. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
