17816, Private, Bert Turner CLOW
Aged 33
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Born in Newmarket in Q3-1883 [Newmarket 3b:517], son of Amos and Emma CLOW (née TURNER) of Exning Road,Newmarket.
1891 census...Bertie Turner CLOW [7] was at 1 Newington Terrace, Exning Road, Newmarket with his father Amos [34], a tailor born in Framlingham; his mother Emma [36], born Hundon and his brothers Frederick [9], and Ernest [2] and sisters Emma J [5]; Alice Maud [4] and Ethel Mabel [3]. All the children marked as Exning born but this maybe due to the parish being Exning. 1901 census...Bertie T [17] a newsagents assistant was still at 1 Newington Terrace with his parents; brothers Frederick; Ernest and Frank [8], Sidney [5] and Harry R [3] and his sisters Alice and Ethel. The new brothers are recorded as Exning born. 1911 census...Bert is now a domestic gardener, still living at 1 Newington Terrace with his widowed father; brothers Frederick; Frank; Sidney and Harry Robert, and his sister Emma Jessie May. Those younger than Bert are now recorded as Newmarket born. His mother died in 1902. As he enlisted in Atherstone, where Major Beatty is buried, there is every chance he was employed there by the Beatty family as other Newmarket natives were. His entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads: Clow, Bert Turner Born at Exning in 1881, educated at St.Mary's Boys' School, and worked for Major Beattie. Soon after war broke out he joined up in the 14th Warwickshire Regiment. He went to France at the end of July, 1916, and was killed only three weeks afterwards." |
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HIGHWOOD ( Bois des Fourcaux), next to Delville Wood on the Somme... July 1916 On the night of the 22nd/23rd of July, the 4th Gordon Highlanders attacked the eastern corner of the wood, whilst the 1st Royal West Kents attacked the south- eastern part of the wood and Wood Lane, there with the 14th Royal Warwickshires at their side. There had been a preliminary bombardment, but this had not inflicted sufficient loss on the defenders, and they were able to hold High Wood. No significant gains were made, although the Royal West Kents suffered 420 casualties. The other battalions also suffered losses. Units from the 51st Division fought here on the 23rd of July, and later a wooden cross was erected here to commemorate those of the 51st Division who had fallen. This cross still stands on the Somme today, but was moved to be near to the 51st Divisions imposing memorial near Beaumont Hamel, which is located within the Newfoundland Memorial Park. 30th July 1916:- There was a gap of a week before the next attack was launched on the 30th of July. The Germans did not waste the time, aerial reconnaissance showing a build-up of troops and defences in High Wood and Wood Lane. The attack this time was made in the evening, and was preceded by a 'creeping barrage'. Machine gun posts within High Wood had been a major factor in the losses inflicted on the British, and on this occasion there was a concerted artillery effort to destroy these. After the infantry attacked at 6.10 p.m., there was some success. Heavy artillery and smoke shells helped troops of the 19th Division to take Intermediate Trench near High Wood. However, in the east of High Wood the machine guns there were able to thwart the 7th Black Watch. At Wood Lane, again there was no success. The 14th Royal Warwicks followed up the initial attack, but were driven back. They suffered 171 casualties in the attack, less than some others - but the strength of the battalion before the attack was only 468. At the end of this last attack in July, there were few gains, and High Wood was still firmly in German hands. The 14th Royal Warwickshires had 65 killed this day, only 13 have identified graves, the rest are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. Bert's younger brother Harry Robert was killed in 1917.. see here |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details