CLARKE William Alfred. Private 202404, South Lancashire Regiment , transferred to as Private 584377, Labour Corps. died 26th November 1918 aged 28 in a Military Hospital, Warrington. He was the son of John and was the husband of Bertha, remarried to Andrews, of Little Town, Croft, Lancashire. He is at rest in Christ Church churchyard, Croft, Lancashire.
Some notes from what remains of his army records. He enlisted on the 11th December 1915 and was transferred to the Army Reserve. He was aged 23, and coal carter and he lived with his wife at Little Town, Croft, Lancashire. On the 23rd July 1914 he married Miss Bertha Dixon at Christchurch, Croft. They had two children Thomas Dixon Clarke, born 4th August 1914 and Vera born 1st April 1916, both at Little Town, Croft. On the 7th April 1916 he was mobilized and he was posted as Private 4753, 3/4th South Lancashire Regiment. He was admitted into Park Hall Camp Military Hospital with piles on the 19th July 1916 and the next day he was transferred to Military Hospital, Prees Heath, Whitchurch, Shropshire. He was discharged for duty on the 18th August 1916. He was re-admitted to The Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington with debility piles and he was discharged from hospital on the 16th November 1916. He stationed at 4th Training Force Reserve Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, Park Hall Camp, Oswestry, Shropshire. On the 11th January 1917 he embarked to France from Southampton, disembarking the next day at Le-Harve. He marched in to 6th Infantry Base Depot, Rouen on the 16th January 1916 and he was posted to join his regiment, 4th South Lancashire Regiment as private 202404. On the 23rd July 1917 his line was attacked by mustard gas and he was treated at 5th General Hospital, Rouen on the 24th. He was later transferred to England from 5th General Hospital on troop ship ,S.S. Kalyan on the 19th August 1917. (This ship became a hospital ship from 1918). On the 20th he was admitted to the Northumberland War Hospital, Gosforth, Newcastle-on-Tyne with mustard gas poising he was discharged fit for war service on the 29th December 1917. He remained in England where on the 26th February 1918 he was posted to the Western Command (W.C). Labour Centre and on the 11th March 1918 he was transferred to the Labour Corps as private 28249 and the 14th March he was posted to the 421 Agricultural Company at may have been at the stage that he army number was changed again to 584377. The 19th December 1918 he was admitted to the Military Hospital, Warrington with influenza and pneumonia. He passed away at 1650 hours on the 26th November 1918. His past history was of being unwell after he was gassed by mustard gas in France four month prior and he has had chest trouble ever since. He died as Private 584377, 421st Agricultural Company aged 28.
