John Taylor and Ann Norman have submitted the following:
Richard Clarkson was born in Heworth on 6th September 1895, the fourth of eight children of John and Elizabeth Clarkson. In 1911 the family lived at Jubilee Avenue. He was employed as a “coal miner off-hand” while his father and two older brothers were also coal miners. The family later moved to 47 Thomas Street, Eighton Banks.
He enlisted on a short service attestation on 13th October 1914 and served as a Private with the Royal Marines “Portsmouth Battalion”, number PO/641 (S). His Battalion was involved in the Gallipoli campaign and on 13th July 1915 he suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. He died two days later on 15th July 1915 on board the hospital ship ‘Rewa’ and was buried at sea.
