James's Story.
Weaverham St. Mary's “Roll of Honour” records 10 lads named Clarke two of which are recorded as “Fallen.”
H. (Herbert) Clarke; Weaverham, see story for Herbert under R.o.H. Listings.
?J. Clarke; At this stage, 30//3/2023, no idea.
J. (James) Clarke; “Fallen” Weaverham.
R. (Robert) Clarke; “Fallen” Weaverham.
G. (George) Clarke; Acton Bridge (see Clarke of Acton Bridge)
J. (John) Clarke; Acton Bridge (see Clarke of Acton Bridge)
T. (Thomas) Clarke; Acton Bridge. (see Clarke of Acton Bridge)
W. (William) Clarke; Acton Bridge (see Clarke of Acton Bridge)
R. J. (Reginald James) Clarke; Cuddington. (see Cuddington Clarke)
S. (Sydney Llewellyn) Clarke; Acton Bridge (see Cuddington Clarke)
Harry Clarke, not listed, added to the Cuddington Clarke’s.
Oliver Clarke; not Listed but was a Weaverham lad, C.W.C.C. remember Oliver at St. Marys. His story is under is own name under the not listed lads.
James “Fallen”
Guardian article 21st Sept. 1917, P5/C2; MISSING PRIVATE JAMES CLARKE.
Pte. James Clarke of Church St., Weaverham has been reported missing since engagements on July 31st.
[Unfortunately no family connection stated. The date he went missing has been used as the date which he died and the follow lads name came up checking C.W.G.C.]
[Unfortunately no family connection stated. The date he went missing has been used as the date which he died and the follow lads name came up checking C.W.G.C.]
C.W.G.C. remember three lads named James Clarke in the period from the 31st July 1917 to 1st Jan. 1918. One lad has his family connection details leaving 2 lads without family connections. One lad was with the Irish Rifles, he died on the 16th August 1917. The second lad is a James Clarke with the 1st/6th Bn. Cheshire Regiment, remembered at YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, Belgium, his date of death is 31st July 1917, he was a Private with the Regimental No 11938. [Unfortunately there are no family details recorded. This lad is recorded as a private but the lad on the “Fallen” memorial is recorded as a L/Cpl. There can be days, weeks and months before a lad declared missing is then declared K.I.A. which can make it a bit awkward looking for a Guardian article 100 years on based on the date of death declared by the C.W.C.G.] Links through Ancestry suggest this is the James Clarke “Fallen.”
The 1911 census has two lads named James Clarke living on Church St., Weaverham. The James married to Ada Tomkinson in 12/10/1907 is the “Fallen” James Clarke with links from Ancestry.
1911 census has the family living on Church St.
James Head, age 26, Wheelwright, born Cuddington, (c1885)
Ada Wife, age 25, Weaverham (Born c1886)
George Son, age 2, Weaverham (Born 1908)
(Ada could be the sister of Arthur and Charley Tomkinson, two of the enlisted lads.)
Ancestry links record additional children of Annie Clarke, Charles Clarke and a Leslie Clarke. James Regiment as Cheshire (1/6th Bn.) Service No 11938.
N.A.M.C. - have a medal card; Clarke James, Corps: Cheshire Regiment No 11938. Rank, Private. Awarded the 15 Star, British and Victory Medals. Theatre of War, France and Date of Entry 22/2/15. The card records James’s death, 31/7/17.
Failed to find a N/wich Guardian article on the death of James Clarke.
Research Bob Heaton
Research Bob Heaton