Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 58648 Arthur Clarkson
- Age: 26
- From: Liverpool
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
- D.O.W Wednesday 11th April 1917
- Commemorated at: Warlincourt Halte Brit Cem
Panel Ref: VIII.C.9
Arthur Clarkson was born on 30th June 1890, the fourth son of Benjamin and Catherine Clarkson (nee Dickson). He was baptised in St. Peter’s Church, Liverpool on 9th July 1890.
Arthur married Catherine Sanderson in St. Peter’s, Everton, on 25th October, 1915, giving his occupation as distiller, and his address as 109A Rose Vale.
His father was a bricklayer, according to Arthur’s baptism and marriage records. His parents married in 1872 and had at least eleven children; Arthur had older siblings Mary, Margaret, Benjamin, Frances, William, Joseph, Catherine Louisa, and Elizabeth, and younger brothers Thomas, and George (who died in infancy).
At the time of the 1891 Census the family is living at 32 Brunel Street, Everton. His mother is listed as wife, but his father not in the household. (His name appears on the electoral roll for 1891-2 at this address, and in 1895-6 at 38 Mackenzie Street.) His mother has nine children at home, Arthur is nine months old, and the eldest, Mary, is 17.
His father died in 1895 aged 45, leaving his mother with six children under 14 years old. His mother remarried two years later to William Hemer.
The 1901 Census finds them at 21 Newlands Street, Everton.
His stepfather is not in the household. His mother, listed in error as Mrs. Jane Hemer, married, 48, his married sister Mary, 27, and five Clarksons: Fanny, 21, Joseph 18, Elizabeth 13, Arthur 10, and Thomas 8.
His mother (Catherine Hemer) appears to have died in the spring of 1910, aged 58.
In 1911 Arthur, 20, and his brother Benjamin, 33, are living with his married sister Mary Kelsey, her husband and four children at 33 Towson Street, Everton. Benjamin is widowed, a ship’s steward, Arthur is a dock labourer.
Arthur married Catherine Sanderson in St. Peter’s, Everton, on 25th October, 1915, giving his occupation as distiller, and his address as 109A Rose Vale.
He enlisted in Liverpool not long after his marriage, in about January 1916. Their daughter Catherine was born on 28th October 1916, by which time Arthur was likely in France. It is possible he never saw his daughter.
Arthur was serving with the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 58648 when he died of wounds on 11th April 1917, aged 26. He now rests at Warlincourt Halte British Cemetery in France.
The site of the cemetery was chosen in May 1916. It was used from June 1916 to May 1917 by the 20th and 43rd Casualty Clearing Stations, in February 1917 by the 1/1st South Midland, and from April to June 1917 by the 32nd. The whole of plots VII, VIII, IX and X were filled in April and May 1917, the months of the Battles of Arras. From June 1917, the cemetery was practically unused until the fighting of May and June 1918, when field ambulances buried in it. After the Armistice the cemetery was increased by graves brought in from other smaller cemeteries.
The cemetery now contains 1,266 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also 29 German and two French war graves.
The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.
Obituary notices were placed in the Liverpool Daily Post and Mercury, 21st April 1917:
Beloved husband of C. Clarkson, 71 Rishton Street, “I think of you in silence, No eye can see me weep, But deep within my heart, Your memory I will keep”
“April 11, died of wounds, in France, aged 26 years, fourth son of the late Benjamin and Catherine Clarkson, and dearly-beloved brother of Mrs. [Elizabeth] Dow, 145 Roseberry Street, and Mrs. [Catherine Louisa] Appleyard, 49, Wordsworth Street.”
“April 11, died of wounds, in France, aged 26 years, fourth son of the late Benjamin and Catherine Clarkson, and dearly-beloved brother of Mrs. [Elizabeth] Dow, 145 Roseberry Street, and Mrs. [Catherine Louisa] Appleyard, 49, Wordsworth Street.”
The CWGC Graves Registration form shows date of death as 10th April 1917, later amended to the 11th.
His daughter was less than six months old when Arthur died. His widow Catherine received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £4-10s, and was awarded a pension of
18/9d a week from October 1917.
Catherine remarried in 1922 to Thomas Mutch, and had a number of children.
In 1939 Catherine, 49, was living at 18 Seville Street, Liverpool with her husband and children and daughter Catherine Clarkson, 22, a packer. She died in 1962 aged 71. His daughter later married and had a family, she died in 1984, aged 67.
We currently have no further information on Arthur Clarkson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Sunday 16th June 1918.
Pte 57615 Fred William Preddy
23 years old
(105 Years this day)
Thursday 16th June 1921.
Captain Leonard George Duncan
43 years old