Pte 24456 Joseph Henry Clarke

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

24456 Private Joseph Henry CLARKE, 20^th Battalion, KLR.

Joseph enlisted in Liverpool on 03rd February 1915, joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private24456. 

He was billeted at the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

Joseph was killed in action at Montauban on 01^st July 1916.

20^th Battalion Diary:

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3^rd wave. No.4 Company in the 4^th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1^st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3^rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2^nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file, 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2^nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2^nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.     

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo:

“Youngest son of Mrs Clarke of 45 Scorton Street was killed in action in France on 4^th (sic) July 1916. He was with the Liverpool Pals and before joining was employed by a City trading firm. He was just 24 years old and it is tragic to think he was about to come home to be married. His officer, in a letter home, pays tribute to his bravery and cheerfulness. Four brothers of Private Clarke are in the firing line”.               

Joseph's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01^st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Joseph was remembered on his birthday in 1917:

ROLL OF HONOUR

In loving birthday remembrance of Joseph Henry Clarke, killed in action July 1, 1916,

Some time, some day, in the better land,

We shall meet again and understand

Never forgotten by Lucy  

Joseph earned his three medals. 

He was remembered in the Liverpool Daily Post close to the first anniversary of his death on 03^rd July 1917: 

LOST AT THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME. 

CLARKE – In loving remembrance of Joseph Henry Clarke (Joe), Pal's, killed in action somewhere in France July 1, 1916.  

Softly at night the stars are gleaming  

Far away on a grave unknown. 

Where he sleepeth without dreaming, 

But still remembered here by everyone. 

Never forgotten by Lucy, Mrs Bayley and family. 

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Sarah Ann, 45 Scorton Street. 

His mother died, aged 79, in 1927 and was buried on the 07^th March at West Derby Cemetery, her address 45 Scorton Street. 

We currently have no further information on Joseph Henry Clarke, if you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.