No.17822, Private, Walter CLARKE
Aged 26
|
Walter Clarke was born in Tostock (2nd qtr 1889 Stow 4a:758), son of Samuel and Anna Eliza CLARKE (née MURTON).
1891 census...Aged 2, he was at The Green, Tostock with his father Samuel CLARKE [50] labourer; his mother Ann E [39]; brothers Harry [17] labourer, Ernest [14], Samuel [13], Arthur [11], Edlen (Reginald)[10] and Bernard [6]; sisters Ethel [7] and Lily [3]. All were born in Tostock 1901 census...Aged 12, he was still at Tostock Green with his parents, Harry, Arthur, Reginald, and Cedric [10], Lily and Beatrice [6] 1911 census...Aged 22, he was a labourer, still at Tostock Green with his parents, Lily, Cedric and Beatrice. The pension card has his mother at "Honeysuckle Cottage", Tostock Green. His brother Bernard was killed in 1917 see here |
|
He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds.
The battle commenced for the 9th Suffolk on 25th and some 54 men were missing at the end of the battle. According to the war diary the battalion were resting in billets from 29th September to 1st October. Fresh out from England, like so many others at Loos, and encountering gas for the first time as well, it must have been a staggering ordeal. Forming up after a march to Vermelles, they advanced in the direction Hulluch to Vendin-le-Vieil. and passed our own lines, the German front line and the German support line before being held up and digging in with the German support line still behind them. At 5 am they were ordered back to the German support line. Another attack was ordered on the 26th, orders being confused and delayed, they advanced just before noon but were checked at the Lens-Hulluch road and from 5 pm for three hours they fought to maintain their position, which they did until relieved just after midnight on the 26th. This baptism of fire cost the 9th Suffolks 135 casualties. 12 recorded by CWGC as killed on 25th and 11 on 26th.
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
