Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Henry Clarke a carpenter, born 19th December 1864 in Gaddesby, Leicestershire and his wife Julia Clarke (nee Pick, married in the 1st quarter of 1886 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1866 in Harby, Leicestershire. Arthur Bernard was born in the 4th quarter of 1894 in Harby and was baptised on the 13th November 1894 in the parish church, Harby, his siblings were, Cecil Charles, born 7th May 1886, Grace Lilian, born 24th February 1888 and Walter Sidney, born 21st December 1890, the latter three siblings were all born in Harby, Mabel Frances Annie, born 30th July 1896 and William Albert Allen, born 6th February 1901, the latter two siblings were both born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 31, Charlotte Street, Melton Mowbray, Leics. In April 1911 Arthur was employed as a butcher’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray, together with his father, a joiner, his mother and siblings, Walter, a general labourer, Mabel, a schoolgirl, William, a schoolboy and Lorna Elsie Clarissa, born 15th November 1907 in Melton Mowbray. Arthur was awarded the British War and Victory medals. In 1939 Arthur’s widowed father, a joiner, his sister Mabel, a housekeeper, his married sister Lorna Mitchell and her husband, James J. Mitchell, a groom, born 22nd September 1899 were all residing in the family home at 111, Saxby Road, Melton Mowbray.
The War Diary records: 18 Sep-18 - HEUDECOURT. 5.20am. Battalion attacked in conjunction with troops either side, “A” and “B” Companies going east to WILLOW ROAD - EPEHY. “D” and “C” Companies in PLANE TRENCH -?- ANDREW STREET 600 yards north of PEZIERE.
On Friday October 4th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL SOLDIERS KILLED. In a letter received last Friday morning by Mrs. Knowles, Saxby-road, Melton Mowbray, from her son, Lance-Corpl. Knowles, Leicester’s, was one enclosed for Mr. and Mrs. H. Clarke, 111, Saxby-road. It contained the sad news that their son, Pte A. B. Clarke, Leicester’s, was killed in action on Sept. 18th. Deceased who was 22 years of age, worked form Mr. Hollingshead, butcher, before joining up in January, 1916, and had ben in France about 18 months. The news has since been confirmed by a letter from the deceased’s officer.
On Friday October 18th 1918 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – A MELTONIAN’S GRAVE. Mrs. Hill, 29, Regent-street, Melton Mowbray, has this week received a letter from her son, Pte. Jack Hill, Highland Light Infantry, who returned to France on Sept. 3rd, after having been in England five months suffering from a shrapnel bullet in his side. He states that a few days ago he noticed a grave with a cross bearing the inscription “A.B. Clarke, - Leicester’s, killed Sept. 18th.” and was wondering whether it was one of the Melton boys. – It was the grave of Pte. A. B. Clarke, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Clarke, 111, Saxby-road, whose death in action we recorded in our issue of October 4th.