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Week 1 - Clifford Stanley Clark
Clifford was the only brother of my maternal grandfather.
He was born on Valentine's Day 1898 at Winscombe, Somerset, the last child of Henry Robert Clark, schoolmaster at nearby Sidcot School (a Quaker boarding school) and Mary Louisa née Buck. Clifford was brought up in the Quaker Faith and was educated at Sidcot School, as were all his siblings. At the start of 1916 Clifford left school and became an articled clerk to a chartered accountant (I don't know where). In Bristol on 6th June 1916 aged 18 years and 4 months he enlisted as a Private in the Somerset Light Infantry (regimental number 35818). On 2nd July 1916 Clifford applied for a temporary commission in the regular army and was admitted to the Bristol University Officer Training Corps. The paperwork for this transfer is signed by Clifford's father as he was still a minor and also by the headmaster of his school, Bevan Lean, who certified to Clifford's good moral character over the past four and a half years. Both these men strongly opposed warfare (being Quakers and pacifists), but believed any man should make his own decision whether to fight or not. Clifford was transferred to Topsham Barracks, Exeter on 20th February 1917 for Officer Cadet Training. He was formerly discharged from the Somerset LI on 9th June 1917 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery 465th Battery, 65th Brigade (Special Reserves) the following day. On 2nd August 1917 he was posted to France. The London Gazette of 26 July 1918 reported that Clifford had been awarded the Military Cross: Quote:
We have a letter written by Clifford to his sister in England dated 20th May 1919 in which he complains of the extremely hot weather and says he and many other soldiers are sleeping outside because of the conditions. A telegram was later sent to Clifford's parents: Quote:
The following day they sent another: Quote:
Quote:
This photo was taken soon after: Later a permanent memorial was erected: On 7th August 1919 Clifford's personal effects were returned to his family: Pocket watch with photos etc Wrist watch Nail file Writing pad Cigarette case (leather) Fountain pen Pencil 1 Key This is a link to the Winscombe War Memorial site. It had never occurred to me to check whether Clifford was included as he died after the war ended and not of wounds etc. But his name is there, second in the first column.
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Merry "Something has been filled in that I didn't know was blank" Matthew Broderick WDYTYA? March 2010 |
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