Sapper Lawrence Clarke.
151436 Royal Engineers 255 Field Coy (Tunneling).
Killed in Action 2nd July 1916, aged 20.
Lawrence was born about 1896 in Burnley, the son of Mary Ann Clarke who was from Scotland, by the time of the 1901 census his mother was a widow aged 42 along with his sister Agnes 20 a weaver and four brothers, John 17 grocer’s assistant, Stephen 11, Francis 5 Patrick 2 and Lawrence himself aged 4. The family was living at 52 Milton St.
In the 1991 census we find more details of Mary Clarke aged 50, she had been married for 33 years had had 13 children 6 of whom had died. She still had 4 sons living with her at 45 Red Lion St, Burnley, Stephen 21 pawnbroker, Francis 16 cotton spinner, Lawrence 15 cotton dyer and Patrick 12 still at school. We also find out that Mary was Irish but lived in Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland.
Lawrence married Margaret Barrowclough on the 29 Aug 1914, in St Mary’s Church. Later that year his daughter Norah was born on the 13th Dec.
Lawrence enlisted in the 4th Battalion Scottish Rifles on the 15th Dec 1914, his occupation at the time was that of a coal miner and he lived at 18 Brunswick St, Burnley. He was on the home front until the 16 March 1915 then he was sent to France. On the 5th Jan 1916 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers, Tunnelling Section. He had a , to say the least a colourful army record being disciplined at least 6 times for offences ranging from being drunk to being unshaven on parade.
On the 15th Jan 1917, Margaret his widow was given a pension of 15 shillings a week for her and Nora. The 1914-15 Star medal was finally received by her on the 13th Feb 1921. They had lived at 32 Hurst Street all there short married life.
Lawrence left his effects to his widow Margaret and daughter Nora.
Lawrence lived at 32 Hirst St., Burnley.
Lawrence was buried in Loos British Cemetery, France: Grave Ref; XVIII.G.12.
