Pte 30177 Edward Clarke

• Age: 30
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Edward Clarke was born 07th July 1886 at Liverpool and was baptised 12th July 1886 at St Oswald's Church, Liverpool. He was the son of Francis Clarke and his wife Laura Henrietta (nee Lunt) who were married on the 5^th July 1886 also at St Oswald’s. Francis was of 25 Hurst St., father Edward, whilst Laura was of 18 Alexandra St., father William. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living in Dagmar Street, Liverpool. Edward's father, Francis, is aged 34, born 1857 in Old Swan, Liverpool and is a general labourer, whilst his mother, Laura, is aged 29, born 1862 has no occupation listed. At the time of the Census they have three children, Edward aged 5, born 1886 is a scholar, Mary aged 3, born 1888 and Laura aged 1, born 1890 all of whom were born in Old Swan. Also living with them at the address is Francis’ mother Mary Clarke a widow aged 75, born 1816 in Ireland.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 7, Wilton Grove, Liverpool. His father, Francis, now aged 43 is a gasworks fireman and his wife Laura aged 38 is a charwoman. At the time of the Census they have four children, Edward aged 14 is a tinsmith, Mary aged 13, Laura aged 11 and Albert aged 9, born 1892. 

His father, Francis, died aged 48, in 1905 and was buried on the 16th March at Yew Tree Cemetery. 

The 1911 Census shows Edward and his family living at 10 Cheers Street Old Swan, Liverpool. The Census record shows Edward is aged 21 born 1890 (Previous records have him born 1886) and is employed as a labourer for the city council, his wife Annie is aged 25, born 1886 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool and they have been married for three years and have a son Francis who was born in 1911. Also resident is Florence McGinnigle, sister in law aged 11, born 1900 and who is at school  

Prior to the war Edward had been employed by the Liverpool Gas Company. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 30177 when he was killed in action on the 12th October 1916 aged 30 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive.

17^th Bn War Diary:  Battle of Transloy Ridge –                                               

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday.  Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16  - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak.  2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced.  Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful.  Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed,  5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds:

“As the whistle blew, the 17^th Battalion left its trenches to move forward.  […]  As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire.  […]  Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire.  As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.   The 17^th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets.  Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will.  It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners.  There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.”

Edward has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, 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.” 

A local newspaper reported his death

Pte Edward Clarke, aged 30, K.L.R. reported missing since October 12. is now reported killed since that date. Previous to the war he was employed by the Liverpool Gas Co. He leaves a widow and one child who reside at 10 Cheer street, Old Swan. 

Soldiers effects, a £5 War Gratuity went to his widow Annie, and pension of 18/9 pw to Annie and son Francis.  

His widow Annie remarried on the 11th November 1920 to widow William Corner at St Mary's Church, Wavertree. William was a 30 year old labourer of 16 Cheers Street, father, Richard, was a labourer, whilst Annie was aged 34 of 10 Cheers Street, her father, George McGinnigle was deceased. They had a daughter Rose born in 1926. 

They appear on the 1939 Register still at 10 Cheers Street, Annie’s date of birth 27^th September 1884. 

She died, aged 60, in 1945 and was buried at West Derby Cemetery on the 11^th June. 

His mother, Laura, died aged 78, in 1940. 

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