Name
Norman Clark
1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/06/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
F/1869
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
17th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
III. B. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt memorials*1, Not on the Waltham Cross Memorials
Pre War
Norman Clark was born in late 1896, in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, son of Alfred Owen Clark, who was employed at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield, and Elizabeth Jane Clark (nee Miller). One of twelve children although four died in infancy.
1901 Census records Norman aged 4, living with his parents, four brothers and sister Rose (6) at, 2 Cross Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census, Norman (14), is living with his parents, and three brothers, Leonard (23), Horace (11) and Basil (9) at 24 Holmwood Road, Freezywater, Waltham Cross, Herts.
His father Alfred Owen Clark died in July 1919, aged 57.
Wartime Service
Norman enlisted at Tottenham, Middx, on 7th September 1915, aged 18, posted to the Middlesex Regiment and issued with the service number F/1869, initially serving with the 27th Battalion.
He was sent to France on 14th April 1916, arriving at 33rd Infantry Base Camp at Etaples, on 15th April. He was transferred to the 17th Battalion, joining them in the field on 22nd April. He was Killed in Action just 48 days later on 1st June 1916. He is buried in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. Grave Ref. III. B. 4.
Additional Information
His effects of £3-10s-06d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £3, went to his mother Elizabeth Clark.
His brother Private 254609 Horace Clark, of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, London Regiment, was killed in Action on 1st September 1918, aged 18 years.
His Headstone inscription “HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED SLEEP” was requested by Mrs. E J. Clark, of 24 Holmwood, Road, Freezywater, Waltham Cross, Herts. (His Mother).
His service record is available on-line at Find My Past & Ancestry UK.
*1 Two names are recorded on a family grave in Cheshunt Burial Ground, the inscription reads:
"NORMAN CLARK AND HORACE CLARK
KILLED IN ACTION 191?"
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
