Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son Henry Clark, a tailor, born 1851 in Leicester and his wife Mary Ann Robinson Clarke (nee Robinson) born 1853 in Leicester. Benjamin Robinson Clarke was born in the July quarter of 1895 in Leicester. In July 1897 Benjamin’s father died in Leicester, aged 46. In the April quarter of 1903, in the Leicester district, Benjamin’s widowed mother married John Thomas Merrill. In April 1911 Benjamin was employed as a printer and was residing in the family home at 269, Charnwood Street, Leicester, together with his step father John Thomas Merrill, a window cleaner, born 1862 in Leicester, his mother, a tailoress and his siblings, Florence Ethel Robinson Clarke, a box maker, born in the July quarter of 1888, Henry Oliver Robinson Clarke, an assistant engineer, born in the July quarter of 1893 and Lilian Robinson Clarke, a schoolgirl, born in the April quarter of 1897, the latter three siblings were all born in Leicester, also residing in the family home were his half-blood siblings, John Thomas Merrill, a schoolboy, born on the 5th June 1903 and Mary Ann Merrill, born 1907, the latter two siblings were born in Leicester. Benjamin also had an older sister, Millicent Annie Robinson Clarke, born in the October quarter of 1886 in Leicester and an older brother Arthur Clarke, born 1874 in Leicester. His older brother, Henry Oliver Robinson Clarke fell in action on the 15th July 1916. Benjamin’s mother died on the 30th March 1919 in Leicester, aged 53.
FAMILY NOTE: Benjamin’s mother has conflicting years of birth, the 1891 census records, 1853, the 1911 census records 1866 and the 1919 death register records 1869. This would make her age at death as 66, 53 and 50, respectively.
Benjamin enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 31st March 1913 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 1748. He gave his place of birth as St. Matthew’s, Leicester and age as 18 years 9 months. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as printer in the employ of the Co-operative Printing Society, Church Gate, Leicester. He gave his present address as 269, Charnwood Street, Leicester.
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 31st March 1913 and recorded his apparent age as 16 years 270 days, that he was 5 feet 3 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 28 and 31 inches, his vision was described as good and his physical development was described as fair. He gave his religion as Wesleyan.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Thomas Merrill, mother, Mary Ann Merrill, 269, Charnwood Street, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Posted. 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 31/3/13.
Annual Training. At Grantham. 13/8/13.
Embodied Service commenced. 4/8/14.
Admitted. To Hospital. In the Field. 19/3/15.
Discharged. From Hospital. In the Field. 21/3/15.
Admitted. To Divisional Rest Station suffering from diarrhoea. 17/8/15.
Discharged. To light duties. 22/8/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 31/3/13 – 1/3/15. 1 year 336 day.
France. 2/3/15 – 13/10/15. 226 days.
Total Service. 2 years 197 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 12 Oct-15 - At 9.00 am Battalion marched to SAILLY LABOURSE. Dinners and teas were cooked here. Rations for 134 men issued. At 5.15 pm Battalion marched to VERMELLES where stores were taken up. At 11.00 pm Battalion arrived in trenches.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00 pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50 pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00 pm artillery lifted and Battalion assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lieutenant Colonel 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 Brigadier General KEMP. All officers of the Battalion either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battalion was relieved by part of the 139th Brigade 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 1/4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Brigade 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Brigade 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Monday, November 15th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – News has just been received that Drummer BEN CLARKE (1748), 1/4th Leicester’s, was killed in action on October 13. He was 20 years of age, and the second son of Mrs. Merrill, of 6, Sanvey-gate.
On Thursday, December 16th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article on page five, under the heading. – “Leicestershire and the War.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Drummer BEN CLARKE [1748], 1/4th Leicestershire Regiment, who was killed in action on October 13th, was only 20 years of age. He was in the local Boy Scouts for five years before joining the Territorials. His mother lives at 6, Sanvey-gate. The same article was reproduced on Thursday, December 16th, 1915, on page six, of the Leicester Daily Mercury.
On Tuesday, December 21st, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article on page 8, under the heading. – 4th LEICESTER’S: KILLED OR MISSING. Dmr. BEN CLARKE, 4th Leicester Regt., killed in action on Oct. 13th. His brother lives at No. 6, Sanvey-gate, Leicester. (A photograph accompanied the article). The same article was reproduced on Tuesday, December 21st, 1915, on page two, of the Leicester Daily Mercury.
[recognitum IX-XI-MMXXII]