Name
Albert Charles Clarke
9/10/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/12/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
E/85
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
17th (Empire) Battalion.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WOBURN ABBEY CEMETERY, CUINCHY
1 B 11
France
Headstone Inscription
"WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER"
UK & Other Memorials
South Mimms Village Memorial, South Mimms Mission Hall Sunday School Memorial
Pre War
Albert Charles CLARKE was born on 9th October 1891, in South Mimms, Hertfordshire & Middlesex, son of Charles James Clark a Hay Binder and Rosa Ann Clarke (nee Chester). One of six children although one died in infancy.
Albert was Baptised at St Giles Church, South Mimms, Herts & Middx, on 20th December 1891.
1901 Census records Albert aged 9, living with his three sisters Cecily (10), Grace (4) and Doris (1), in The Village of South Mimms, Herts & Middx.
In 1905 aged 14, Albert left school and joined the Post office in April 1905, as a Village Delivery Boy.
1911 Census records Albert aged 19 working as a Booking Clerk for Cooks Tourist Office, living with his parents, and four sisters at Milton Cottage, South Mimms, Herts.
Wartime Service
Albert travelled to St James Street, London, on 1st September 1914, to enlisted, posted to the 17th (Empire) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), and issued with the service number E/85.
(The 17th (Empire) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was raised in London on 31st August 1914, by The British Empire Committee).
Albert and his Battalion were on Salisbury Plain on final training when they received orders to embark for France, arriving on 17th November 1915. Albert was Killed in Action just 21 days later, aged 24, he is buried in Woburn Abby Cemetery, Cuinchy, France. Grave Ref; I. B. 11.
Additional Information
His effects of £3-4s-2d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £4-10s-00d, went to his father Charles James Clarke.
His Headstone inscription “WITH CHRIST WHICH IS FAR BETTER” was requested by his father.
His service record is available on-line at Find My Past UK, www.findmypast.co.uk and Ancestry UK, www.ancestry.co.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Brian Lodge