Charles Whiting Clark
1911 - Printer
1913 - Printers Labourer
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Charles Whiting Clark was born in 1895 at Nottingham, he was the son of Joseph and Mary Clark and the brother of Blanche, Harriet, Elizabeth, Lily, Annie and Ethel Clark. 15 Hartford Street London Road Nottingham
His father Joseph was born in 1858 at Offerton, Derbyshire, his mother Mary was born in 1867 at Chesterfield, they were married c1886 they went on to have 11 children. sadly 5 were to die in infancy or early childhood.
In the 1911 census the family lived at 41 Buxton Street Nottingham Joseph Clark 55 yrs is a leather tanner, he is living with his wife Mary 46 yrs, and their children, Lily 17 yrs working in the lace trade, Annie 10 yrs, Charlie 25 yrs a printer and Ethel Clark 6 years old. They state they have been married for 25 yrs and have had 11 children, 5 of whom had died.
Charles Whiting Clark enlisted in the Army Reserve (4th Battalion special reserve) at Nottingham on 4 July 1913. He was 18 years 6 months of age and 5 feet 3 inches in height. He did the required basic training immediately and on 11 April 1914 completed his musketry training. He was embodied and posted to the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) and sent to France on 4 January 1915. The Battle of Neuve Chapelle began on 10th March 1915 and the following day at 10 am, 'C' company, advanced north east, through the orchard on the left of the line and occupied some ruined houses, Lieutenant Weigall being killed in this advance. The enemy shelled the battalion throughout the day and at 4 pm 'D' company charged the enemy's breastworks but suffered heavy losses from enemy machine guns and had to abandon the attack. At midnight a draft of 25 men joined the battalion. Charles was one of 62 men killed during the day. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France.
John Morse
His death plaque was sent to Mr J Clark 144 Salisbury Street Radford Nottingham.
additional research and information Peter Gillings
Le Touret Memorial
Photo by John Morse
Charles Whiting Clark
Photograph was published on 19th April 1915 in the Nottingham Evening Post and is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918