Biography of Gunner Thomas Clark (104275)
237th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery Regiment
Died 21st October 1917

Soldier

  • Name: Thomas Clark
  • Date of birth: 1887 
  • Place of Birth: Horbling, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: April – June 1887
  • Place of Birth Registration: Bourne, Lincolnshire, England

Father

  • Name: John Thomas Clark
  • DOB: 1853
  • Place of Birth: Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Farm labourer

Mother

  • Name: Fanny Casswell
  • DOB: 1852
  • Place Of Birth: Horbling, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 1873 Boston District

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB

  • John Henry Clark, 1874, Boston
  • John William Clark, 1876, Horbling
  • Alice Ann Clark, 1879, Horbling
  • George Edward Clark, 1881, Horbling
  • Elizabeth A Clark, 1885, Horbling
  • Thomas Clark, 1887, Horbling
  • Charles Clark, 1890, Horbling
  • Alfred Christopher Clark, 1891, Horbling
  • Plus 1 more whose name is unknown taken from the 1911 census

Census

  • 1891: Thomas is living with his parents in Horbling.
  • 1901: Thomas is living with his parents in Poor Row, Horbling, Lincolnshire.
  • 1911: Thomas is living with his wife at 272 Walpole Street, Peterborough, Northamptonshire. The census gives him an age of 23 and he is listed as a washerout.

Relatives in services

Wife

  • Name: Ethel Porter
  • Date of birth: 11th February 1881
  • Place of Birth: Heckington, Lincolnshire, England

Marriage

  • Date of Marriage: 26th December 1909
  • Place of Marriage: Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England

Children

  • Eric Crossley Clark, 1911, Peterborough
  • John Thomas Clark, 1914, Barnack
  • Phyllis Mary Clark, 1916, Rotherham

Wife’s parents

  • Father: John William Porter
  • Mother: Ann Spencer

Newspaper Mentions

  • Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 22nd November 1917
    Mr. T. Clark, of Horbling near Billingborough, has received an official notification that his youngest son, Gunner T. Clark, R.G.A., has been killed in action in France. He was 30 years of age, and leaves a widow and three children.  The family has suffered heavily through the tragedies of the war.  Mr. Clark’s four sons joined up soon after the outbreak of hostilies, and three have now made the great sacrifice.  Pte. Chas. Clark (Lincolns) was missing on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and has not since been heard of, while another boy, gunner Alfred Clark who belonged to a trench mortar battery, was killed in action a few months ago.  The only survivor is Pte. J. W. Clark (LIncolns), who has been wounded, but is now back with his regiment in France.  The deepest sympathy is felt for the family in the heavy burden they are called upon to bear.

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 24th November 1917 HORBLING
    A TRIPLE BEREAVEMENT – Mr. T. Clark, of Horbling  has received an official notification that his youngest surviving son, Gunner T. Clark, of the R.G.A., has been killed in action in France. He was 30 years of age, and leaves a widow and three children.  The family has suffered heavily through the war.  Mr. Clark’s four sons joined up soon after the commencement of hostilies, and three have already made the great sacrifice.  Private Charles Clark (Lincolns) was missing on the Gallipoli Peninsula while another son, Gunner Alf. Clark, who belonged to a trench mortar battery, was killed in action a few months ago.  The only survivor is Private. J. W. Clark (LIncolns), who has been wounded.  The deepest sympathy is expressed for the family in the heavy burden

 

  • War Office weekly casualty List December 18th 1917
    Part VII
    WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN.
    KILLED.
    ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY
    Clark 104275 Gnr. T. (Rotherham)

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • Available

Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Gunner Thomas Clark, 104275, Royal Garrison Artillery was killed in action on 21th October 1917 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Widow Ethel

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Horbling, Roll of Honour in St Andrews Church

 

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office