William Clark

A Private with the 2/5th Battalion, William died on 26th of September 1917 at the age of 25. 

William is believed to have been born at Northill, Bedfordshire, in 1891, a son of John and Clara Clark. In 1901 his family lived at Irwell Green, Northill, and by 1911 at Ickwell, Biggleswade, when William worked as a carter on a farm. 

William married Daisy Kate Sarbutt at Lowestoft Register Office on 16 February 1916 and they lived at 8 Sandringham Road. Later Daisy lived at 25 Sandringham Road. She died in 1918. 

William stated that he had served with the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment for one year and four months before he joined the Army in March 1916. (It is possible that he had enlisted on 20 April 1911).

William was living at 8 Sandringham Road and working as a gardener when he joined the Army at Bury St. Edmunds on 14 March 1916. He joined the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) on 17 March 1916, service number 5120, and was posted to the 5th (Reserve) Battalion. He was posted to the 1/5th Battalion on 29 February 1917 and arrived in France on 1 March 1917. In March 1917 he was renumbered 202701. 

On 14 March 1917 William was admitted to 30 General Hospital, Calais, with a fever. He was then treated at 35 General Hospital. On 27 March 1917 he was admitted to 14 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux, suspected as having diphtheria and severe measles. He was invalided to England on 28 April 1917. 

On 15 May 1917 he joined the Command Depot at Ripon and, on 7 July 1917, joined the 5th (Reserve) Battalion. On 27 July 1917 he was posted to the 1/5th Battalion and returned to France. On 17 August 1917 he joined the 2/5th Battalion and served with D Company. 

On 26 September 1917 the 2/5th Battalion were to attack, and capture, Otto Farm, near Langemarck. D Company detailed one platoon to mop up for B and C Companies and the rest were to provide immediate support for the attacking companies. There was a heavy enemy barrage which caused many casualties in A and D Companies. Although they managed to reach, and take, the farm, it could not be held. One officer and sixty-seven men of the Battalion, including William, were killed.