Name
James Clark
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
59089
Royal Garrison Artillery
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD (HEATH LANE) CEMETERY
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
GB Kent & Sons (Kent Brushes) Memorial, Apsley, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials
Pre War
James Clark was born in 1888 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of Henry and Mary Clark.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 59a Cotterells Road, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a Fitter.
He married Beatrice How on 16 December 1908 in Hemel Hempstead and they had four children, James, Gilbert, George and Denis. (N.B. James died in 1913 and George died of meningitis in 1916). On enlistment they were living at 75 Bury Road, Hemel Hempstead. He gave his occupation on enlistment as Bone Sawyer and he was working for GB Kent & Sons, Hemel Hempstead, brush manufacturers.
Wartime Service
James enlisted in Great Yarmouth in October 1915 and served as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery in 90th Siege Battery. He served in France from 17 June 1916 but was invalided home to England on Hospital Ship 'Peter de Conick' to Dover on 15 May 1917 suffering from nephritis caused by exposure and the strain of active service. However, he had noticed that a month before this his sight was becoming dim. He was diagnosed with retinal haemorrhages and retinitus and was discharged on 5 November 1917 as no longer fit for active service.
He received a Silver War Badge No. 256,203
He died on 15 February 1918.
Additional Information
N.B. Because he was discharged due to ill health before the end of the war he does not have an official war grave but he is buried in Heath Lane Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead. His name is also commemorated on G B Kent & Sons Memorial, Apsley, Hemel Hempstead.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
hemelatwar.org
