Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Clarke a colliery labourer, born 1852 in Carlton, Leics., and his wife Annie Elizabeth, born 1854 in Thornton, Leics. Joe was born in 1894 in Thornton, Leics., his siblings were, Frederick, born 1883, Breedon Harry, born 1885, Charles, born 1887 and Elizabeth Jane, born 1892, all his siblings were born in Thornton, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Main Road, Thornton, Leics. In April 1911 Joe was employed as a colliery labourer and was residing in the family home at Thornton, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Breedon and Elizabeth. The War Diary for today records. IN THE FIELD. One Company working under orders of the 9th Tramways Company ROYAL ENGINEERS. Three Company’s slab carrying and road building under instructions of the C. E. X Corps.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday November 2nd, 1917
THANKS
Mr and Mrs T. Clarke and family, of Thornton, desire through this medium to tender their sincere thanks to all friends who expressed sympathy with them in their sad bereavement through the death of their son, Private Joe Clarke, who died of wounds, October 13th, 1917.
(Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 29/12/2017)

Coalville Times article - Friday October 22nd, 1920
THORNTON
WAR MEMORIAL
A memorial tablet in honour of the Thornton men who served during the war has been erected in Thornton Council School, and was unveiled on Saturday last. It is composed of grey granite, with a bronze border on the top and at the sides, measures 5ft by 2ft, and contains the names of:
T. H. Brown, J. Clarke, H. B. Cooper, A. H. de Ville, J. W. Farmer, B. Garfield, F. Mee, W. A. Poole and A. Unwin, who died in action.
The service was conducted by the Rev. J. Horn (Wesleyan minister), who read the lesson, the Rev. E. G. Garnham (Baptist minister) who gave an appropriate address, and the Rev. R. Pratt (the Vicar), who read the prayers. After the memorial had been unveiled by the schoolmaster, the Thornton Brass Band played the Dead March (“Saul”) and at the close the bandmaster (Mr H. Bennett) sounded the “Last Post”, and the audience joined in singing the National Anthem. The cost of the memorial (£100) was raised by the Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Committee.
(Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 22/03/2020)