Name
Edward James Clarke
1876
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/06/1917
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
32848
Labour Corps
14th Inf. Labour Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
IV. B. 53.
France
Headstone Inscription
THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Great Offley memorials
Pre War
Edward James Clarke was born in Offley in 1876, the son of Charles and Emma Clarke and one of nine children, although his older brother Albert died in 1906.
The family were recorded as living at The Bull Inn, Main Street, Offley on the 1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 Censuses, with his father listed as a baker and publican or beer retailer. Edward remained living with his family and in 1891 he was working as a bakers assistant, by 1901 he was listed as a pig dealer and in 1911 as a general labourer.
His father died in 1915 and his mother and siblings moved to the address he gave on enlistment, which was 92 Wenlock Street, Luton, Beds.
Wartime Service
Edward enlisted in Luton on 16 February 1916, aged 40 . He was mobilised on 21 June 1916 and initially posted to the Royal Fusiliers, under reg. no. 45132.
His service record is a little confusing as he was transferred several times between 22 June 1916 and March 1917, to Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment Depot Corps, 14th Inf. Labour Coy. under reg. no. 32848, 29th (Works) Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, and back to the Depot of the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. He served at home until 5 March 1917 and was then sent to France, being transferred again to 122nd Coy. Labour Corps (Reg. No. 72714).
On 1 May 1917 he was seriously injured by shrapnel wounds to his back. He died in hospital in Boulogne on 9 June 1917 and is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £4 7s 6d. She also received a pension of 5 shillings a week and ordered his headstone inscription of "THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HATH TAKEN AWAY" when living at 92 Wenlock Street, Luton, Beds.
N.B. Pension records use the Reg. No. of 72714 when he was transferred to the 122nd Company of the Labour Corps, but CWGC and Soldiers Effects use the 32848
SDIGW spell Clarke without the 'e'
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Adrian Pitts, worldwar1/luton.com
