Heslop's Local Advertiser 12/11/1915
Medal Index Card
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Clark born in the parish of St. James, Gateshead, County Durham, 15th September 1881 and baptised, 12th October 1882, was the eldest of 2 sons his brother David was born in 1884, sisters Mary Jane, Isabella and Margaret in 1874, 1880 and 1886 respectively. His father Robert Clark, a railway fireman, native of Gateshead born in 1884, married in 1875 to Sarah Jane Edwards born in the parish of St. Helens, Lancashire and whose family had moved to Felling between 1870-1871. William’s father died aged 34 years in 1888, Sarah Jane and her children were living in 1891 at 44, North Tyne Street, Gateshead where she was employed as a shop keeper, daughter Mary Jane (15) was a hawker, selling wares door to door, William, David and Margaret are listed as scholars, there is no mention of Isabella who may have died in infancy.
Between 1891 and 1901 the family had moved to Heworth and it was here that William married 16th April 1906, Mary Elizabeth Avery native of Felling, born 1882 and with whom he had 3 children, Robert Avery Clark born 1907, Sarah Jane Clark 1909 and Martha Ruddick Clark 1910. In 1911 they were living at 37, Wellington Street, Felling, Gateshead, William was employed as coal miner/hewer. Unfortunately, their son Robert died aged 5 years in 1912.
On the outbreak of war William enlisted at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, September 1914, into the 3rd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, before being assigned as Private 3/9069 to the 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, part of Kitchener’s New Third Army, attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. Concentrated at Tring they moved to Halton Park for training but returned to local billets in Tring for the winter. May 1915 they returned to Halton Park where they received rifles in late June and trained in the use of them moving by August 9th to Whitley Camp where they were inspected by Lord Kitchener.
The first troops of the battalion embarked for France 2nd September 1915 and the main body of men, including the now Lance Corporal Clark, crossed to France 5 days later where they concentrated near Tilques and were ready for action by September 13th. Their first experience of battle could not have been worse, marched across France they were placed in reserve for the British assault at Loos, entering the front line September 26th 1916, suffering 3,800 casualties for very little gain.
Lance Corporal 3/9069 William Clark was killed in action 27th September 1917 only three weeks after his arrival on the Western Front. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 20,626 names inscribed on the Loos Memorial which forms the sides and rear wall of Dud Corner Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and the Commonwealth who died in the sector during and after the Battle of Loos and who have no known grave. William was 34 years old.
His widow Mary Elizabeth received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 17, Chapel Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
Their daughter Sarah Jane Vale nee Clark born February 27th 1909 died in the district of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire in 1978, aged 69 years, Martha Ruddick Durham nee Clark died aged 91 years at Sunderland Tyne & Wear in 2001. Mary Elizabeth Clark nee Avery may have died at Gateshead in 1926.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 12/11/1915:
"Lance-Corporal William Clark, 12th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action, in France, on 27th Sept. Husband of Mary Elizabeth Clark, nee Avery, of 17 Chapel Street, Felling."
William Clarke is remembered in Felling on F32.01, F32.22 and F32.23
