Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Clarke a stonemason, born 1866 in Loughborough, Leics., and his wife Mary Ann, born 1869 in Hanley, Staffs. William Frederick was born in 1892 in Loughborough, Leics., his siblings were, Harry Archibald, born 1888 in Nottingham and Leonard Eric, born 1896 in Loughborough, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Rutland Street, Loughborough, Leics. In April 1911 William was employed as a costing clerk and was residing in the family home at 3, Rutland Street, Loughborough, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Harry, Leonard, Walter, born 1902 and Barbara Ellen, born 1904, the latter two siblings were both born in Loughborough, Leics. The War Diary for today records. At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00pm artillery lifted and Battn assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lt Col R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brig Gen KEMP. All officers of the Battn either killed or wounded. The War Diary entry for the following day the 14th October records. In the evening the Battn was relieved by part of the 139th Bde and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned. The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1st/4th Battn Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Bde 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Bde 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.