Name
Albert John Clarke
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/04/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
17269
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LIJSSENTHOEK MILITARY CEMETERY
VI. C. 21A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No report
UK & Other Memorials
Harpenden Town Memorial
Pre War
Albert John was born in 1895 in Clifton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire to Thomas Clarke, a Stud Groom, and Mary Jane (nee Barratt). The family were living in Stable Cottage. Albert had 3 brothers and 1 sister.
By 1911 His parents, together with his sister Kate and Albert were living at Dringhouses, Yorkshire with Albert being employed as a groom. He later worked at the Kennels of the Hertfordshire Hunt and lived at Kinsbourne Green, Harpenden.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in St Albans as Private 17269 in the Bedfordshire Regiment. He went to France on 4 Oct in a draft of 115 men to join 8th Battalion of the Regiment which had deployed on 30 Aug 1915 and was at Vlamertinge, Ypres.
On 20 Apr 15 while in trenches along the Yser Canal near Ypres there was a heavy Bombardment and a German attack. The Battalion took heavy casualties in resisting the attack. Other Rank casualties were 32 Killed, 97 Missing (believed Killed) and 65 wounded, including Albert who died of wounds on 22 April 1916.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £6 10s and arrears of £6 7s 2d paid to his father Thomas.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Mary Skinner, Harpenden & District Local History
Society (www.harpenden-history.org.uk)
