No.G/29350, Private, Frederick CLARKE
Aged 35
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Fred Clarke was born in Hundon on 11th December 1880 (Risbridge Q1-1881 4A:542), son of Alfred and Hannah Eliza CLARKE (née JOLLEY).
He was admitted to Hundon Board/Council School in March 1886, transferring on Feb 26th 1890. 1891 census...Aged 10, he was at The Horshoes, Back Street, Hundon with his parents (father now Beer seller and poulterer); brothers William (assistant poulterer), Frank and Albert [4] born Hundon; sisters Kate [8] and Flora [6], both born in Hundon. 1901 census...Aged 20, farmer's son, he was at Bury Road, Barnardiston with his parents (father now a farmer); brothers Frank (groom) and Albert (farmer's son). 1911 census...Aged 30, single, father's assistant, he was in Barnardiston with his parents (father now a fowl dealer again); sister Flora (assistant Council school teacher and brother Albert (postman/groom/gardener). Two of the ten siblings had died. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. 7th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, Royal Fusiliers landed at Le Havre 24 July 1916 and joined the 190th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. H.C.O'Neil OBE in his "History of the Royal Fusiliers details the exploits of the 7th Royal Fusiliers on teh Anre on 13th November 1916, the closing stages of the Battle of the Somme. They were engaged north of the River Ancre. At 5:45 am "C" and "D" Coy advanced with the Hon Artillery Company on their right. To the left was a redoubt that for the whole day made a salient into the British positions. Both the leading Coys met with heavy machine gun and rifle fire, the 1st two waves being held up by remains of German wire, losing heavily and being forced to return to their starting line. There, with about 60 men from other battalions, with it being so foggy no-one had any clear idea what was happening, Capts Foster and Clarke decided to try to advance again.. Under heavy fire again all the platoon commanders were soon casualties, but nevertheless they reached the German front line in five minutes. 20 German dead were found and one officer and 50 men captured together with a machine gun. The position was consolidated and the company remained there until ordered to proceed tot he Green line, leaving Sgt Bright, three Lewis guns and 13 men to hold up the German strong point. The Green line was reached with little loss and held until about 9 pm, when they were relieved by the H.A.C. Meanwhile "D" Coy had made three abortive attempts, but made little headway against German machine gun and rifle fire. At the end of the 3rd attempt, down to 50 men, Capt Rattigan decided to hold where he was in front of the German wire. They held for four and a half hours, with Capt Rattigan being killed. 2nd Lt Downing then found a mine shaft leading back and went and reported to battalion HQ, and was ordered to bring the remains of the company back the same way. While this was going on Sgt Bright held up the German strong point all day, helped considerably by a supply of German bombs found in the trench and Pte Hawkesley laying out along the parapet with his Lewis gun. Captain Goddard of "B" Coy took over at 3 pm and organised the captured trench, the battalion being re-organised at 2 am on the 14th. CWGC records 119 of the 7th Royal Fusiliers killed, 87 buried in Ancre but 28 with unknown grave and named among the 72,000 on the Thiepval memorial. CWGC gives the eventual death toll as 33, none with a known grave.
photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
