Name
Victor John Clarke
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
31478
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA CHAUDIERE MILITARY CEMETERY, VIMY
III. D. 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
New Barnet Town Memorial
Pre War
Victor John Clarke was born in 1887 in Bedhampton, Hampshire, the son of John and Esther Clarke. On the 1891 Census the family were living in Main Road, Bedhampton, Hants where his father was working as a General Labourer. By the time of 1901 Census they were listed as near Belmont and a few doors along the street from the Belmont Tavern in Bedhampton, where his father was working as a Labourer in the Lime Kiln and 14 year old Victor was working as a Farm Labourer.
He married Laura Robson in Havant in late 1910 and on the 1911 Census they were living at 8 Elmhurst Terrace, Lower Bedhampton, Havant, Hants and he was working as a Nursery Gardener. They had a son, Edward Victor who was born in 1916 in Barnet, Herts and Victor was said to be living in New Barnet, Herts on enlistment.
His widow gave her address as 57 Lyman Road, Buckland, Portsmouth, Hants and 187 Shearer Road, Portsmouth on pension records.
Wartime Service
Victor enlisted in Bedford and served with the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
He was killed in action on 18 April 1917 when the Battalion were situated at Bois de la Folie. Although there is no specific event recorded in the war diary for that day, they were subject to hostile shelling in the area at that time.
Victor was originally buried near the battlefield and concentrated at the end of the war to La Chauderie Military Cemetery, Vimy, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of 14s 7d. She also received a pension of 18s 9d a week for herself and her child.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www,bedfordshireregiment.org.uk
