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South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Corporal 1943 Oliver James CLARKE - 1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment


Killed in Action on Saturday July 15th 1916 aged 37

Military History
     
Theatre of War Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914 Star & Clasp, British War & Victory Medals Thiepval Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Medal Citation (if app) SWFHS Area Memorials
22 Aug 1914 in Boulogne, France ~ Leek Wootton
     
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted Other War Memorials
Battle of the Somme  1911 in Warwick  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
near Sucrerie ~  
     

Date of Enlistment

According to his service number, 1943, Oliver enlisted between 4 Feb 1911 when #1770 was issued and 27 Jan 1912 when #1983 was issued. Source

Circumstances of Death

Oliver is listed as being killed in action on 15 Jul 1916. The 1st Battalion war diary for the period 14th to 16th July is transcribed below along with a newspaper report of his death.

War Diary

14th. July 1916 - Camp - Mailley-Forceville Road: Wet day. Coy's training. D Coy found one Officer and 40 men for work on 4th Avenue at night. Mailley and Bertrancourt shelled.

Casualties: 3 Other Ranks wounded.

15th. July 1916 - Camp - Mailley-Forceville Road: Fine day. Battalion relieved 2nd Roy. Dub. Fus. in left sector of line, relief completed 5.30pm. B Coy on right front, A Coy left front, D Coy in support, C Coy reserve in Tenderloin.

Quiet night. R. Irish Fus. on our right, E Lancs on left. Transport shelled by Sucrerie, 3 horses killed. All kits & Co? brought up to Tenderloin by B Coy. Arrived midnight.

Casualties: 1 Other Rank killed & 1 wounded.

16th. July 1916 - Trenches - Auchonvillers:Fine day. Enemy artillery active all day and most of night. Our guns retaliate on front and 2nd line trenches. Enemy sniping active at night and use lots of flares. Aeroplane dropping lights observed over Beaussart 11pm.

Casualties: 1 Other Rank killed & 4 wounded.

Newspaper Report

Warwickshire Advertiser - Saturday 22nd July 1916
Local War Items

Lance-Corporal Oliver James Clarke, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, has been killed in action. He was the second son of Mr. & Mrs. John Clarke of Leek Wootton, and was formerly a fireman on the London and North-Western Railway. He was driving a transport wagon [see War Diary entry] when he was struck and the bullet or piece of shrapnel went through two postcards in his pocket which he had written ready to post home.
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
3 Nov 1894 in Willenhall Not found
   
Parents Names Abode
John William and Edith Clarke nee Sheffield Leek Wootton
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1894 - Willenhall 1911 - Horse Driver (see Circumstances of death)
1901 - Archers Farm, Honiley                                 1912 - Soldier in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1911 - Leek Wootton 1914 - Soldier in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment
1916 - Leek Wootton (pension card)  
   
  • Oliver's surname is recorded as Clark (no e) in the census records.

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