Stockwell War Memorial

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C names

Stanley William Clarke

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S.W. Clarke
Private, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), 3rd Bn.
Service No. 279057
Died 31 May 1918, aged 19.
Remembered at Pernois British Cemetery, Halloy-Les-Pernois, France

Chris Burge writes:

Stanley William Clarke was born on 7 April 1899 and baptised on 24 October 1900 at Forest Gate, St James, Essex. Stanley was the third of the five known children of Thomas and Elizabeth Mary Clarke.  He was about five when the family settled in Lambeth.

In the 1911 census, Stanley, his four siblings and their parents lived in four rooms at 27 Angell Road, Brixton.  Stanley’s father was a foreman motor fitter and his older brother Sydney was working as an office boy. 

With the introduction of conscription in 1916, Stanley’s parents knew that, if the war continued, all but the youngest of their four sons might have to fight.  What happened to his older brothers Sydney and Harold is not known, but Stanley, who was just 15 in 1914, was conscripted in 1917.  He become eligible for overseas service at the age of 19 and was sent to France on 3 April 1918 as a private 654707 Clarke of 21st Bn., London Regiment.  He was transferred and renumbered as private 279057 Clarke four days later, on his 19th birthday. 

Stanley reached the support line on the 13 April, part of a 70-man draft, in cold and wet weather. After moving to the front line, their position was attacked on 24 April.  Fierce fighting led to over 200 casualties in a 48-hour period.  The battalion was relieved and in the first two weeks of May they played a football match and were entertained by concert parties.  They returned to a forward position on 22 May, in fine weather.  The situation remained quiet until sporadic shelling three days later caused 10 casualties, of whom Stanley was one. He passed down the evacuation chain to reach the 4th Casualty Clearing Station at Pernois, but succumbed to his wounds on 31 May 1918.*  

The Clarke family were living at 40 Tasmin Road when they received news of Stanley’s death.  His father Thomas died in 1930, aged 60. His mother Elizabeth, who continued to live in Tasmin Road with her youngest daughter Ivy until at least 1939,  died in 1956, aged 87.

Alfred Charles Clarke

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A. C. Clarke
Service no. 453028
Rifleman, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles), 2nd/11th Battalion
Died age 22 on 6 November 1917
Son of William and Eliza Clarke, of 18 Wilkinson Street, Albert Square, Clapham
Remembered at Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 the Clarke family occupied 8 rooms at 18 Wilkinson Street, London SW8. William Clarke, 52, a plaster model maker at a terracotta works (possibly this was Doulton’s on Albert Embankment) from Burbage in Leicestershire, and Eliza Clarke, 50, from Whitwick, Leicestershire, had 9 children, all of whom survived. The household was full on the night of the census:
Gertrude Eliza Clarke, 22, born in Hathern, Leicestershire
Elisa Maryann Clarke, 18, a book folder, born in West Bromwich
Alfred Charles Clarke, 15, a grocer’s assistant, born in Lambeth
Albert Thomas Clarke, 11, born in Lambeth
Maud Beetrace [sic] Clarke, 10, born in Lambeth
Doris Lilian Clarke, 5, born in Lambeth
Annie Clarke, 26, visiting from America (married to one of Alfred Charles’ brothers)
Getrude Annie Clarke, 2, Annie’s daughter, born in America
Philip Lindsey Clark, 22, single, a sculptor, born in Brixton, a boarder
Emma Paul, 49, a single lady from Loughborough, was visiting as was Hannah Duplex, 78, a widow from Loughborough.

James Stephen Clack

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J. S. Clack
Service no. MS/775
Private, Army Service Corps, 1st Div. Supply Col.
Died age 29 on the 2 October 1914
Son of the late Andrew and Lucy Clack; husband of Annie Clack, of 25 Probert Road, Brixton
Remembered at La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France

Information from British Army WWI Service Records

James Stephen Clack stood 5 feet 7¾ inches tall, weighed 165 pounds (11½ stone). He was 38 inches around the chest, which he could expand by 2½ inches. The statistics bring to mind a fine-looking man. He would have been a good head taller than many in the recruitment office and his build would have contrasted markedly with his fellow soldiers – who were, by and large, skinny and slight. The approving officer gave his physical development the rare accolade: “very good,” he wrote enthusiastically.

Clack’s sallow complexion, grey eyes and brown hair were recorded, as was the ganglion on his left wrist. This last was nothing. What’s more, he was among the first to volunteer, presenting himself on 8 August 1914. He was recruited to the Army Service Corps as a driver. Another perfect fit as he was a lorry driver in civilian life and had worked as a motor engineer. The Army must have been delighted to have such a keen, healthy, qualified candidate.

Alas, after only 58 days the war was over for Clack. He was admitted to the 16th Field Ambulance on 28 September 1914 and by 2 October he had died of appenticitis and peritonitis.

At home, his wife Annie Clack, living at 10a Lingham Street with her 2-year-old daughter Mary Lucy, was sent her husband’s effects with a handwritten note: “Herewith 70 centimes (French) cash, the property of the late Private James Stephen Clack…” Later she was awarded 15 shillings a week for herself and her child. It cannot have seemed like a fair exchange.

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 James Stephen Clack, 27, occupied in 3 rooms at 28 Connaught Mansions, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton SW2 with his wife Annie Clack, 24. James, who was working as a motor engineer, was born in Stockwell and Annie in Hounslow. They had been married less than a year.

Charles Henry Charnock

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C. H. Charnock
Service no. 195781
Gunner, Royal Field Artillery, 120th Bty. 27th Bde.
Killed in action at around age 20 on 14 October 1917
Remembered at La Clytte Military Cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium

Information from the 1911 census and the Charnock family

The 10 members of the Charnock family lived in 4 rooms at 15 Madrid Place, South Lambeth. Frederick Thomas Charnock, 41, was a bricklayer, born in Southwark. Kate Charnock (maiden name Bushnell), 36, was also born in Southwark. They had 9 children, 7 surviving.  All were born in Brixton:
Charles Charnock, 14 (born on 3 April 1897 in Ingleton Street, Brixton; baptised in St Andrew’s Church, Stockwell)
Frederick Charnock, 11
Lily Charnock, 9
Alfred Charnock, 8
Florence Charnock, 6
Annie Charnock, 2
Edward Charnock, 9 months
Mary Ann Varns, 63, Kate’s widowed mother, who was born in St Giles, lived with the family.

Richard Charman

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R. Charman
Service no. L/21002
Driver, Royal Field Artillery, “B” Bty. 156th Bde.
Died of wounds age 17 on 23 July 1916
Enlisted at Camberwell, lived in Brixton
Son of Henry and Mary Charman, of Brixton, London.
Remembered at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’Abbé, Somme, France and on the war shrine at St Michael’s Church, Stockwell Park Road, London 0DA.

Information from the South London Press

The South London Press reported Charman’s death on 25 August 1916:
Killed in action was the young son – he was only 17 – of Mr. and Mrs. Charman, Ingleborough Street, Brixton. He was one of six brothers serving with the colours, all descendants of a fighting race. In a letter to his mother, his company officer says: ‘Your son died nobly, doing his duty and as his section commander I can testify to the fine young soldier whom we mourn. He was, for his age, quite exceptional in his work, and beyond praise in the fearless way in which he carried out his dangerous and arduous duties. In him we have lost one who is irreplaceable and who, by his cheerfulness and courage endeared himself to us all.’

Information from the 1911 census

In 1911 Richard (or Dick) Charman’s family lived in 4 rooms at 13 Ingleborough Street, London SW9 (between Robsart Street and Lorn Road). Henry Charman, 56, a general labourer, was born in “Lambeth Parish” (St Mary’s Parish, north Lambeth). Mary Charman, 54, was born in Clapham. They had had 15 children, of whom 12 were still living in 1911. Those listed on the census for this address were
Henry Charman, 31, a carrier’s carman, born in Clapham
John Charman, 28, a painter’s labourer, born in Brixton
William Charman, 21, a painter’s labourer, born in Brixton
Daisy Charman, 13, born in Brixton
Lilly Charman 13, born in Brixton
Dick Charman, 11, born in Brixton