Bertie Frederick Clarke

A Civilian, Bertie died on 9th of April 1941 at the age of 48. Died at 100 Rotterdam Road.

Bertie was born at Aylsham on 8 October 1891, a son of John William and Mary Ann Clarke. He was baptised at Aylsham on 6 December 1891. In 1891 his family lived at The Gas Works, Aylsham. By 1901 Bertie’s mother had died and the family had moved to Lowestoft and lived at 4 Laundry Lane. Bertie attended Saint John’s Infant School before, from 5 February 1900, becoming a pupil at Saint John’s School. By 1911 they were living at 2 Eden Street, Lowestoft, and Bertie was a herring fisherman. In 1915 Bertie lived at 34 Essex Road. 

Bertie joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 9 January 1915. He served on the trawlers Strathilla, until September 1918; the Herring Gull, until May 1919; the Gunner, until July 1920, and then the Afterglow. He was discharged and demobilised on 2 February 1920.  

In 1918 Bertie was awarded his certificate of competency as a Second Hand. 

On 26 December 1918 Bertie married Rose Chapman at Saint Margaret’s Church. They both gave their address as 63 Oxford Road. In 1921 they lived at 23 Payne Street and Bertie was a trawler fisherman working for Mr. S. Ling of Lowestoft. By 1939 they were living at 100 Rotterdam Road and Bertie was a general labourer. 

Bertie and Rose, their children, and several neighbours were killed in an air raid when a bomb hit the air raid shelter, at 100 Rotterdam Road, where they were taking cover.  

Bertie’s brother Ernest died in the loss of the trawler Ivy in 1914.  

Note: Bertie’s first name was Bertie, not Bert, as given in some sources.