Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Harry Clarke a general farm labourer, born in the April quarter of 1870 in Thurcaston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 27th November 1870 in St. James’ Church, Birstall, Leicestershire (son of Thomas Clarke, 1841-1904 and Mary Anne Wood, 1843-1913) and his wife Mary Clarke (nee Leake, married on the 15th March 1892 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston), born in the July quarter of 1867 in Thurcaston and baptised on the 20th October 1867 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston (daughter of John Youmans and Elizabeth Ann Leake, 1846). Richard David was born on the 17th February 1894 in Thurcaston and was baptised on the 25th March 1894 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston, his siblings were, Walter Frederick, born on the 19th August 1892 and baptised on the 18th September 1892 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston, John Thomas, born on the 7th June 1897 and baptised on the 1st August 1897 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston and Doris Lilian, born on the 7th February1900 and baptised on the 18th March 1900 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston, all his siblings were born in Thurcaston, in March 1901 the family home was at Top Lane, Thurcaston. In January 1905, Richard’s mother died in Thurcaston, aged 37 years and was interred in Thurcaston Cemetery on the 24th January. In the April quarter of 1909 Richard’s father married Elizabeth Ann Worth in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district. In April 1911 Richard was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at High Street, Anstey, Leicestershire together with his father, a municipal laundry department worker, and his stepmother Elizabeth Ann Clarke (formerly Worth, nee Clarke), born in the January quarter of 1868 in Anstey, and his siblings, Walter, a shoe trade riveter, John, a shoe trade riveter and Doris, a schoolgirl, and his step siblings, Albert Isaac Worth, a shoe trade clicker, born in the January quarter of 1888, Norah Kathleen Worth, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1904 and baptised on the 17th July 1904 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey and Lawrence Worth, a schoolboy, born in the January quarter of 1901 and baptised on the 17th July 1904 in St. Mary’s Church, Anstey, the latter three step siblings were all born in Anstey. Richard also had the following sibling, Laura Annie Gwendolen Clarke, born on the 12th October 1902 in Thurcaston and baptised on the 16th November 1902 in All Saint’s Church, Thurcaston.
Richard’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 18322.
Posted. To 9th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France 24/9/15.
Promoted. Lance Corporal. In the Field, date not known.
Promoted. Acting Corporal. In the Field, date not known.
Transferred. To 8th (Service) Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers. Acting Corporal, date not known.
Killed in action. In the Field. 14/3/17.
Buried in Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont – Pys, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Richard nominated his father, Walter as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 14 Mar-17 – 12.30 – 4.00am. “X” Company moved along South East bank of Railway to ACHIET TRENCH and occupied this trench from the Railway to its junction with STEP TRENCH forming Lewis Gun posts and Bombing blocks at each end.
4.00am. “Z” Company and 1½ Companies of KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY moved along Railway to ACHIET TRENCH. “Z” Company bombed trench from G.20.a.95.30 to G.20.a.7.7 and established bombing block there. “W” Company soon after daylight pushed strong patrol along STEP TRENCH to gain touch with “X” Company and the junction of STEP and ACHIET TRENCHES but could not get past G.20.a.0.4 owing to machine Gun fire from QUICK TRENCH.
6.30am. Enemy raided “X” Company post at G.20.a.3.7. Enemy were driven back leaving 3 dead. 2nd Lieutenant GAMESON was wounded and subsequently died of wounds. Post was withdrawn to G.20.a.4.6. One Company of 2/5th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY supported by “Z” Company advanced in extended order North of Railway towards the SUNKEN ROAD but were held up by enfilade Machine Gun fire about the line of DITCH in G.14.d. They were ordered by Major WATSON, KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY to withdraw to ACHIET LINE.
6.15pm. “Z” Company followed by “Y” Company advanced to SUNKEN ROAD at the Railway Crossing in G.15.d. 2 platoons of “Z” Company who advanced past the road came under fire from BIHUCOURT LINE and were withdrawn to road. Strong patrol of “Y” Company (2 platoons) pushed up SUNKEN ROAD towards ACHIET and were fired on with rifles, Machine Gun and Bombs from trench crossing road at G.15.d.6.8. Retired under cover of our Lewis Guns. Posts established at G.15.d.0.4, G.15.d.2.4, G.15.d.2.3, line of posts along Railway from ACHIET LINE to Railway Crossing. One Company in SUNKEN ROAD from Railway Crossing to G.22.a.0.7 and post at G.22.a.1.8. Casualties during operations 13th to 16th. 1 Officer, 10 Other ranks killed.