Reginald William Clark

Lieut. Reginald Clark Worksop Guardian 31 August 1917 On Friday Mr. and Mrs. C.R Clark, of the Market Square and West Field Retford, received the official intelligence that their only son had been killed in action. The young officer went out with the First Battalion of the Sherwood Rangers, at the commencement of the war, and served with his regiment in Egypt and at Gallipoli and Salonika as a Sergt. Upon his return home he was nominated for a commission, and was gazetted to the 17th Battalion, Notts and Derby Sherwood Foresters. The deceased was educated at the Retford Grammar School, and afterwards studied engineering at the Sheffield Technical College. He afterwards joined his father in the old established business of seed man and horticulturist. He married a daughter of Mr. Arran Smith, of Lime Tree Avenue, who has recently been residing at Torquay, and it is here that the widow and young family are now living. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents, the widow and family. The following letters from his Colonel and brother officers, as well as that from a Retford soldier, testifying to the high esteem in which this gallant officer was held by those who were serving with him at the Front. Lieut. Col. Milward,. Commanding the 17th Sherwood Foresters, writes:- “Dear Mrs Clark,-I very much regret to have to inform you of the death of your husband. He was temporarily attached to a platoon in support, and was shot through the heart while going up to reconnoitre the front line, and he died instantly. I cannot tell you what a loss he will be to me and the Battalion. He was an excellent officer and liked by everyone. Please accept my greatest sympathy and the sympathy of all ranks with yourself and the rest of the family.” Letters have also been received from the Medical Officer, Ronald, C. Cook; Lieut. Lloyd Dexter, Captain Colen, Lieut, Marriott, and private J. T. Batty, the deceased officers runner Lieut. Lloyd Dexter says.:- “Your husband and I joined the Battalion at the same time and we had been together and developed a firm friendship. I grieve for the loss of a great friend. It may afford you some consolation to know that he suffered no pain. He died the moment he was shot.” Lieut Clark was very well known in Worksop; and prior to the war regularly attended the market on business. He is buried in the Woods Cemetery, Belgium

The following article is taken from the 'In memoriam' section of the 'Retfordian' magazine which was an in house publication of the King Edward VI Grammar School, Retford :- Reginald W Clark, who had served with the Sherwood Rangers since 1914 in Egypt and Salonika, and who recently was granted a commission in the Sherwood Foresters, was killed in action on August 18th. During the great retreat from Serbia he served in that country with a M.G. section. During the early days of the war he won a certificate of the Royal Humane Society for saving Sergt Hill of Torworth from drowning. "He was brave and considerate in all things at all times " is the verdict of those who knew him best.