The edition of the Norwich Mercury dated Saturday September 29th 1917 has a picture of this man.
The caption reads:- Private Fred B. Clarke, Yorks Regiment, son of the late Mr. J.F. Clarke, Stuston, killed in France.
He is remembered on the War Memorial at Stuston, (see comment box below).
CLARKE, FREDERICK BENJAMIN
Rank:……………………………………Private
Service No:…………………………..42824
Date of Death:……………………..07/06/1917
Age:……………………………………..24
Regiment:…………………………….Yorkshire Regiment, 8th Bn.
Panel Reference:………………….Panel 33.
Memorial:……………………………YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Son of John and Elizabeth Clarke; husband of Beatrice S. Watling (formerly Clarke), of 3, Fitzilian Avenue, Harold Wood, Essex.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1606838/CLARKE,%20FRE...
SDGW records that Private 42824 Frederick Clarke was Killed in Action on the 7th June 1917 whilst serving with the 8th Battalion, Alexandra Regiment. He was formerly 156867 RFA. He was born Diss, Norfolk and resident Stuston, Scole, Suffolk. He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds.
The Medal Index Card for Private 42824 Fred Clarke, Yorkshire Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/4/141196
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1820821
His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where they were being stored.
The Government Probate Service holds a Soldiers Will for 42824 Frederick Clarke who died on the 7th June 1917.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Wills?Surname=Clarke&Sur...
He is not recorded on the Diss War Memorial
No match on Picture Norfolk
Baptism
The baptism of a Frederick Benjamin Clarke, born 3rd March 1894, took place on the 30th March 1894 at St Mary, Diss. His parents were John Furniss, a Dealer, and Elizabeth. The family abode is given as Diss.
www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818ff99e93790eca33a79a...
1901 Census
The 7 year Frederick, born Diss, Norfolk, was recorded at a dwelling on The Common, Stuston, next to the Stuston Swan Public House. This was the household of his parents, John F, (aged 46 and a Farmer and Dealer from Redgrave, Suffolk) and Elizabeth, (aged 46 and from Ossett, Yorkshire). As well as Frederick, other children living with them are:-
John……………….aged 18…………………born Diss……………..Farmers Son
Charles…………..aged 12…………………born Diss
Alice……………….aged 9…………………..born Diss
1911 Census
The 17 year old Fredrick Benjamin, a Farmers Son Working on a Farm, was recorded at a dwelling at Great Green, Thrandeston, Diss. Father John Furniss and Elizabeth have been married 36 years and have had 8 children, all then still alive. As well as Fredrick, their other children living with them are:-
John William……………….aged 28…………Farmers Son
Charles Furniss……………aged 22…………Farmers Son
As well as a live in Servant, they also have their 12 year old grand-daughter Florence Mary Easts visiting them.
Other family records
Other baptisms in St Mary, Diss
John William…….born 16th January 1883……baptised 20th August 1886
www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818ff95e93790eca33a6cd...
Charles Furniss..…born 1st February 1889……baptised 1st March 1889
www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5818ff96e93790eca33a70e...
1915 – Marriage?
The marriage of a Frederick B Clarke to a Beatrice S Bootman was recorded in the Hartismere District of Suffolk in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1915. The marriage of a Charles F Clarke to an Ellen N Bootman was recorded in the same District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1916. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Marriages for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 show these as the only two occasions a male Clarke married a female Bootman. As Hartismere included the village of Stuston, it would seem likely that two brothers married two sisters.
The relevance of this becomes particularly important when looking for possible children. Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 for Children registered with the surname Clarke, mothers maiden name Bootman, reveals 5 children, all born in the Hartismere District.
These are:-
Barbara L.E…………….Q4 1915
John W F……………….Q3 1916
Frederick L C…………..Q2 1920
Marjorie………………..Q3 1923
Jack B…………………..Q1 1927
Given those dates I would believe that Barbara was probably a daughter of Frederick and Beatrice, John was possibly their son, and the other three were the children of Charles and Ellen.
Family in the Great War.
Stuston has two memorials – the second records those who fought and survived. Listed there is J Clarke and a C Clarke – that’s probably John William and Charles Furniss.
In the same gallery of pictures in the Norwich Mercury there is also one of John William.
The caption reads Private J.W. Clarke, Bedfordshire Regiment, son of the late Mr. J.F.Clarke, Stuston, severely wounded which has necessitated the amputation of the right leg.
It would appear Charles Furniss Clarke, aged 30 and born Diss, Norfolk, was discharged from the Army in 1920. He was then service number 50244, serving with the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVB2-2LPJ
On the day
7th June 1917, 8th (Service) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment:
At 2 a.m. on the 7th, "A" Company and two platoons of "C" moved up to Panama Canal and Jackson Avenue, and half an hour later the whole Battalion was ready in the assembly trenches, all in high spirits and eager to move forward. On both sides now the shelling died away, but the enemy kept on sending up Very lights from Hill 60.
At 3 in the morning of the 7th the men got out of their assembly trenches and lay down in front of them, and ten minutes later nineteen great mines exploded simultaneously beneath the enemy's defences, the British guns opened a heavy bombardment, and the infantry went forward. The advance was difficult as the darkness was intense, but it was steadily maintained, Captains Lambert and Pearson handling their companies with much skill, moving round the great craters with which the front was studded, broadening their front, closing and changing direction as became necessary. The Red Line was captured with great dash, while "C" Company, under Captain Atkinson advanced upon and captured the two mine craters; consolidation was in progress by 3.20.
Battalion Headquarters had started in front of the leading wave, but on reaching Deep Support, it was so far in front of the Battalion that a halt had to be called. At 3.20, however, a further advance was made, and by 3.30 Headquarters was established on the eastern slope of Hill 60 at the Mound, in accordance with the instructions received from the Brigade. In the meantime "A" and "B" Companies having hardly checked on the Red Line, had pushed on to the Blue Line close under the British barrage. These companies slightly overran the Blue Line owing to the fact that as the companies drew near the enemy bolted from the shell-holes they were occupying and the men could with difficulty be held back from pursuit; further, the enemy trenches had been so knocked about by shell fire that it was not easy to recognize the line they had occupied. Both companies now sent patrols forward.
At 3.40 "D" Company passed through in artillery formation and occupied the Black Line, meeting little or no opposition and having hardly any casualties; but now, as the troops on the right and left were not yet up in line, a slight withdrawal took place in order to establish touch. The Rest of the morning was then spent in reorganizing, consolidating, bringing up material and stores and in putting strong points in a state of defence. Finally, on the night of the 10th - 11th June, "B," "C" and "D" Companies were relieved and went back into reserve in the copses near Zillebeke, "A" Company remaining in the front line until the following night, when the whole Battalion moved by lorry to Montreal Camp.
The losses had been heavy: killed or died of wounds were Captain E.N. Lambert, Second-Lieutenant W. Buckle and 35 Other Ranks; wounded were Captain B.L. Pearson, Lieutenant A.G. McCullock, Second -Lieutenants C.W. Jones, J.L. Armstrong, J.T. Shaw, W.H. Mitchell, H.J. Smith and A.T. Dudley, and 195 non-commissioned officers and men, while 15 men were missing.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=223863
(Mildly photoshopped to minimise the visual impact of damage that was present on the original image.)
