1220 Rifleman Henry Percy Clarke, 1/6th battalion, the King's Liverpool Regiment.

Family Information

Henry P Clarke was born in Liverpool on 13th May 1894 and baptised in St Philemon's Church, Toxteth on 11th July that year, his parents were William and Mary Jane Clarke

In the 1901 census the Clarke family lived at 41 Pinehill St in the Princes Park area of Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Henry's father William Clarke was a joiner. Henry was 6 years old and had a brother William Alfred who was aged 5.

In the 1911 census the Clarke family lived at 2 Wesley St (just a few streets away from St James' Church) William Clarke was now working as an 'Engineers' Pattern Maker' Mary Jane was a dressmaker (own account) and Henry was an apprentice ship wright.

The census also shows us that William and Mary had been married for 20 years and had 2 surviving children from 3. Their house had 9 rooms so was large for 4 people.

Henry Percy Clarke was an apprentice at Cammell Llairds ship-builders in Birkenhead.

Military Information

Pre-war Territorial

Fortunately, Henry Clarke's service papers survive. They show that he joined the Territorial Force 6th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment) aged 17 years and 2 months on 3rd July 1911. He signed up for four years.

His regimental number was 1220 and he was in 'B' Company of the 6th (Rifles) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment)

He put his occupation as 'apprentice (not bound) shipwright' at Cammell Lairds in Birkenhead.

Henry's medical report shows that he was 5ft 8inches tall with good vision and of good physical development. His chest measurement fully expanded was 35 inches with an expansion of 4 inches.

His family, listed as his next of kin, were his parents and brother all still living at 2 Wesley Street

WW1

As a member of the Territorial Force, Henry could not be sent overseas without his consent. On the 19th October 1914 Henry signed army form E 624 agreeing to be posted overseas in the event of national emergency. At this time he was stationed at Seven Oaks, Kent. He had 9 months left to serve of his original 4 years.

Henry Percy Clarke embarked for France on the SS City of Edinburgh on 24th February 1915, from Southampton.

(The SS City of Edinburgh, date unknown, source www.photoship.co.uk)

The City of Edinburgh was a steamship built in Liverpool in 1899 and originally named Maplemore then sold in 1901 and renamed, then used as a troopship 1914-1918.

Less than 2 weeks after arriving in France, Henry was killed in action on 8th March 1915. Just four months before his 4-years were up and 2 months before his 21st birthday.

The file of Henry's papers includes some correspondence from 1919 between Henry's parents, the Imperial War Graves Commission and the Officer i/c records about where Henry was buried, it seems that his parents asked where he was buried and were given the answer 'Behind trench B32, Ypres' which came from Henry's service record and possibly the 6th Bn casualty register. Then both the Officer i/c of records and the Imperial War Graves Commission wanted to know where the information came from.

Death and Commemoration

Henry was killed in action on 8th March 1915. The Battalion War diary shows that his battalion were at VLAMERTINGHE until the 7th March when they were moved to YPRES. The following entry is for the day Henry Clarke was killed:

YPRES 8/3/1915

HQ Orders D Company moved from VLAMERTINGHE to YPRES. Paraded at 2pm. Battalion quartered in Cavalry Barracks. Casualties in trenches: 'B' Company Other Ranks 2 killed 7 wounded.

(source: King's (Liverpool Regiment) 6th Battalion War Diary, National Archives)

The CWGC shows that the two men lost on this day by the 1/6th KLR were Rifleman Henry Percy Clarke and Rifleman Robert Henry Fisher, both of whom have no known grave and are commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Click here to go to the CWGC record for Henry Percy Clarke (opens in new window)

As well as having his name on the St James Church Roll of Honour panel, Henry Percy Clarke was commemorated in the church by his friends from Cammell Lairds who provided this beautiful brass plaque which was placed in the chancel.

The following notice was also placed in the Liverpool Echo on 16th March 1915

CLARKE - March 8, killed in action, aged 20 years, Rifleman Henry Percy Clarke, B Company 6th battalion K.L.R. (Liverpool Rifles) eldest beloved son of Mr and Mrs W Clarke, 2 Wesley-street, Liverpool.