Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Edward Clarke a grocer’s porter, born 1869 in Tewkesbury, Glos., and his wife Mary Ann, born 1873 in Tewkesbury, Glos. William Thomas was born in 1895 in Tewkesbury, Glos., his siblings were, Edward, born 1895 and Winifred Mary, born 1900, both his siblings were born in Tewkesbury, Glos., in March 1901 the family home was at Gravel Walk, Tewkesbury, Glos. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade worker and was residing in the family home at 6, Irlam Street, South Wigston, Leics., together with his father, now a railway drayman, his mother and siblings, Edward, Winifred, Clarinda, born 1903, Sidney, born 1905 and Hilda May, born 1909, the latter three siblings were all born in Wigston, Leics. The War Diary for today records that the Battalion were in the Support Line, Emile Sector. Uneventful day relieved 9th Suffolk Regiment in right sub section Auguste sector. Support Company moved at 3.00pm, front line Company’s moved 6.00pm. Midnight, relief complete. Disposition:- A and B Company’s front line. C Company support Cob Trench. D Company reserve Catapult Trench. Battalion HQ’s Congress Trench. Casualties during relief, A Company 1 killed and 3 wounded.