Gunner 76244 Thomas Clarke, MM

Killed in Action on Thursday, 19th September 1918, age 22.
Buried in Grave IV. C. 2. at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.

Royal Field Artillery, 123rd Brigade, "D" Battery. 37th Division.

Grandson of Mrs Hannah Hambleton (formerly Southall) of 4 Court 3 House, Bloomfield Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Bilston, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 30th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/184372/

Genealogical Data

Thomas Clarke was born on 27th December 1896 at 9 Chapel Street, Wallbrook, Coseley; he was actually Benjamin Thomas Clarke. His mother was Mary Maria Clarke (née Southall), and his father, Thomas, was a Boiler Maker.

1901 Census
78 Chapel Street, Coseley, Bilston, Staffs.
Thomas Clarke (32, Boiler Maker, born Sedgley), his wife Mary M. (28, born Bradley), and their son: Benjamin T. (5 months, born Coseley). The Census records Benjamin T. as 5 months old, this is an error as Benjamin Thomas was 4 years old. The 5 month old child was likley to have been Joseph William whose birth was registered in March quarter 1901.

By the time of the 1911 Census, both parents had died: Thomas, aged 34, in March quarter 1904, and Mary M., aged 38, in March quarter 1911. This left Benjamin Thomas as an orphan and hence his 'residence' at the time of the 1911 Census.
It is likley that Benjamin Thomas had a brother, Joseph William, born in March quarter 1901. This is suggested in the Soldier's Effects of Daniel Southall who leaves part of his estate to his nephew Joseph W. Clarke. This also ties in with Benjamin Thomas and Joseph William both being inmates of the Dudley Workhouse in 1911.

1911 Census
Dudley Union Workhouse, Burton Road, Dudley, Worcs.
Benjamin Clarke (14, Inmate, School, born Coseley).
Joseph Clarke (9, Inmate, born Coseley).

Personal Data

By the time Thomas enlisted, his parents had both died and his grandmother, Mrs Hannah Hambleton (formerly Southall, nee Gorton), was actiing "in loco parentis". Hannah's youngest son, and so Thomas's uncle, was just a couple of years older than Thomas - he was Daniel Southall and was killed at the Battle of Festubert in May 1915 serving with the 2nd Worcesters

Thomas's gravestone inscription "He was a good lad, beloved by all who knew him" was submitted to the Imperial War Graves Commission by Mrs H. Hambleton of 4 Rounds Yard, Bloomfield Road, Tipton. Mrs H. Hambleton was Thomas's maternal grandmother Hannah; her first husband had died in 1903 and she had married Samuel Hambleton in 1909, but he died before the 1911 Census. The Tipton Herald article of 12th October 1918 (see below) gives his address as "4 Court, Bloomfield, near Tipton". This is most likely the same as 4 Rounds Yard, Bloomfield Road which Mrs H. Hambleton's address submitted to the Imperial War Graves Commission.

After Thomas's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £21/3/7d (21 pounds, 3 shillings and 7 pence); this was paid to his grandmother and sole legatee, Mrs Hannah Southall, in March and June 1919. His War Gratuity was £17/10/0d (17 pounds and 10 shillings), this was also paid to his grandmother in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Alfred had enlisted in January 1915.

Thomas's grandmother was granted a Depandant's Pension of 3/0d (3 shillings) per week effective from 8th April 1919, but it was noted that this was just for one year. Her address was 4 Court 3 House, Bloomfield Road, Tipton.The pension was extended, and after a number of increases by November 1921 it amounted to 14/0d (14 shillings exactly) per week. The Pension Card also mentions her son, Daniel Southall, who had been killed in 1915. It is not exactly clear if the pension is for her grandson, her son, or both. It is only mentioned on her grandson's Pension Card.

Thomas's Medal Index Card records that his British War Medal was returned in November 1923, as it had been found by the police. The medal was re-issued shorty afterwards, in January 1924.

Action resulting in his death

The War Diary for 123rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (123/RA) for October 1917 records that the Military Medal was awarded to Gunner Thomas Clarke. No further detail is given, but it is likley to have been awarded for bravery during August or September. In August, 123/RA were located at Messines-Wytchaete about 4 miles south of Ypres, and in September were located at Verbrandenmolen just over 2 miles south-east of Ypres.Thomas's Military Medal was 'gazetted' in the Edinburgh Gazette dated 30th January 1918.

The German Spring Offensive began on 21st March 1918 with the German aim of splitting the Anglo-French lines and driving forward to the coast. Their offensive stalled in front of Amiens, and the tide turned decisively from 8th August 1918 with the Australian success at Villers Brettoneux. This heralded the start of the "100 Days" of succesive Allied victories leading to the Germans requesting an armistice.

The Allied advance across the Somme battlefields saw the New Zealand troops capture Bapaume on 29th August 1918, with 123/RA providing artillery support. After Bapaume, the advance continued eastwards in the direction of Cambrai. On 9th September, 123/RA took up positon in the south of Havrincourt Wood, about 10 miles south-west of Cambrai.

Over the next week, they provided artillery support as the advance continued more slowly towards the village of Trescault. Notably, on the 12th September, they fired in support of attacks on the Trescault Spur, Havrincourt and a part of the Hindenburg Line.

The War Diary for 15th September 1918 records: "123 Bde, RFA under 37th Divisional Artillery, covering Right Battalion". No more detail is given, but it is likey that one of the 123rd Brigade guns was hit by German counter-battery fire as 3 men of 'D' Battery were killed on that day. As well as Tipton man Thomas Clarke, they were Gunner George Fitzjohn and Bombadier Harry Shaver who are also buried in Row 'C' at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 12th October 1918
A VETERAN KILLED.
News has been received of the death in action of Gunner Thomas Clarke, RFA, of No 4 Court, Bloomfield, near Tipton. He was only 22 years of age, and before joining up at the outbreak of war was employed at the Patent Shaft and Axletree Works, Wednesbury. He had been at front for 3 and a half years.