Name
Arthur John Clark(e)
1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/08/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
45644
Royal Field Artillery
"D" Battery, 11th Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
XXV. AA. 21A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
Bovingdon Village Hall Memorial,
St Lawrence Church Memorial, Bovingdon,
Not on the Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Arthur John Clark was born in 1890 in Wandsworth, London, the son of Catherine Anne (Annie) Clark.
On the 1891 Census he was living with his grandparents John and Emma Clark in Church Lane, Bovingdon. His grandfather was working as an agricultural labourer and one of his uncles, Harry was working as a machine labourer. His other uncle William was a 10 year old school boy.
His grandfather died in 1899, aged 62 and on the 1901 Census, Arthur was living with his widowed grandmother and uncles Thomas and William at High Road, Bovingdon. Arthur was a 10 year old boy but was listed working as an Engine Driver (Threshing Machine). He remained with his grandmother in 1911 at the same address and his uncle Thomas Clark was listed as head of the household. Twenty year old Arthur was then working as a Cowman.
His mother married William Kempster in 1900 in Hemel Hempstead and on the 1911 Census she was living with her husband and three children (Arthur's half siblings) at 14 Alma Road, Hemel Hempstead.
At some point he moved to the London area and was living in Upper Holloway on enlistment. He married Lilian (Lily) Tickner in 1913 in Dorking, Surrey. They had a child, Annie Elizabeth, mentioned on pension records, born 11 February 1919. (see note below).
His widow was living at 172 Cornwall Road, Notting Hill, London W11 on pension records.
Wartime Service
Arthur volunteered in 1914 and enlisted at Cockspur Street, SW London, joining the Royal Field Artillery. He served in France from 25 August 1915 as a Gunner with 'D' Battery, 11th Brigade.
He was killed in action at Ypres on 2 August 1918 and he is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs C A Kempster, 14 Alma Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "NOT FORGOTTEN".
His widow Lily received his pay owing of £10 19s 4d. His mother Catherine received a war gratuity of £18.
Note on the pension card states "..instructed to issue pension at Motherless rate in respect of child Annie Elizabeth born 11.2.19 payable to Guardian Catherine Annie Kempster, 14 Alma Road, Hemel Hempstead, subject to recovery of any advances made by DWPC (22.7.19)" A pension was awarded of 13s 9d a week.
Annie then lived with her grandmother as she is recorded on the 1939 register living at 14 Alma Road, Hemel Hempstead with William and Catherine Kempster and working as a Machine Operator at the paper making factory (probably John Dickinson & Co Ltd). She married Alan Sterne on 23 December 1939 in Hemel Hempstead.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Dick West, www.hemelatwar.uk, www.dacorumheritage,org,uk.
