Clarke, Arthur Thomas

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Arthur Thomas Clarke

15530, Private, 16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 3 July 1918, aged 27
Buried at Varennes Military Cemetery, France

CWGC registered (Son of Ellen and the late WA Clarke, of Llandudno; husband of JT Clarke, of Bryn Horeb, Great Ormes Head, Llandudno)

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN BY HIS LOVING WIFE AND SON FATHER AND MOTHER

Arthur Thomas Clarke was born in Birmingham in 1890. He was the son of William Adcock Clarke a brass castor, formerly a clerk, and his wife Ellen Clarke (née Allcoat). In 1891, the family lived at Aston. William Clarke was 45 years older than his wife and he died in February 1893 aged 71. The Census of Wales for 1901 records Ellen Clarke employed as a general domestic servant living in Deganwy Street, Llandudno; Arthur may have been living in Birmingham. Ten years later in 1911, Arthur was living with his mother and stepfather, Enoch Jones, at “Craig Lea”, Penrhynside, Llandudno – he was employed as a wagon tipper at a quarry.

Arthur Clarke’s army record no longer exists but it is known he enlisted at Llandudno and judging from his regimental number of 15530, he volunteered in September 1914, joining the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. This battalion formed at Wrexham in October 1914 as part of Kitchener’s third new army (K3). The battalion disembarked in France in September 1915. Shortly before the battalion had embarked, Arthur returned to Llandudno to marry Jane Isabella Jones.

On 24 February 1916, Arthur Clarke contracted influenza, passed through the 52nd and 51st Field Ambulances and recovered at the divisional rest station. Having left his battalion, Arthur was now officially posted to his infantry base depot. It would appear he returned to light duties for his medal award roll indicates that he was attached as a servant to an officer on a course, a servant to an officer in hospital, and to Headquarters 113 Brigade. At a date unknown, he was posted to the 16th (Service) Battalion RWF.

Arthur Thomas Clarke was killed in action on 3 July 1918 aged 27. At the time, the 16th RWF had relieved the 17th in the front line near Forceville, in the Somme between Arras and Amiens. The line had been subject to enemy bombardment and Arthur was the only soldier of the battalion to have been killed that day. He was buried at Varennes Military Cemetery.

In the meantime, Arthur’s son, William A Clarke, had been born in the spring of 1916. It is not known if Arthur was ever to see his son. Jane Clarke married William J Jones in 1931 and the couple and her father lived in Llandudno in 1939. Jane Jones died in 1979.

Known memorials:

  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
  • Penrhynside War Memorial (as Arthur Thomas Clark)
  • Llanrhos Parish War Memorial, All Saints’ Church, Deganwy

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