Name
(P?) Bernard Brock Clear
1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/09/1916
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
24901
Suffolk Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 1 C and 2 A.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial Central Methodist Church Memorial, Letchworth, War Memorial, Shepreth Cambs., Memorial, Foxton Tutorial Press, Shepreth
Pre War
Bernard Block Clear was born in 1896 in Shepreth Cambs to Stephen Saines Clear, postman, and Catherine (nee Brock).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Ida Grace (born 1894) and Bernard were living at High Street, Cottage, Shepreth, Cambs.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Ida Grace (a post office employee), and Bernard were living at High Street, Shepreth, Cambs.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Ida and Bernard (an auxiliary rural postman) were living at Shepreth, Cambs.
Earlier research suggests he worked as a musician and wrote "The Miner's Daughter' (New York song) not confirmesd.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Bernard. He enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment at Hitchin as Private 24901 in the 7th (Service) Battalion. This Battalion as part of 35 Brigade, 12 (Eastern) Division went to France on 30 May 1915. It is likely that Bernard joined the following the Battle of Loos and took part in the Battles of the Somme in 1916 at Albert (1-13 July) and Pozieres (23 Jul- 3 Sep). Bernard was killed in action on 9 Sep 1916, probably from enemy shellfire during a period in the trenches. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £2 10s 9d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Louise Fryer, Jonty Wild
