Private Samuel Siddell Clark.
12345 2nd East Lancashire Regiment.
Killed in Action 9th May 1915, aged 29.
Samuel was born in the March quarter 1886 in Haslingden, Lancashire. The son of Samuel Clark and Mary Ann Walsh.
In the 1891 census, the family consisted of Samuel 30, cotton weaver, Mary 29, James 11, Robert 9, Betsy 6, Samuel 5 and Bertha 2 living at 34 Ernest St., Church, Accrington, Lancs.
By the time of the 1901 census the family had expanded and had moved to 3 Emmott Court, Burnley. Samuel 40 cotton weaver, Mary 39, Betsy 16 cotton weaver, Samuel 15 apprentice?, Bertha 12, George 9, David 7, twins Thomas and Lawrence 1 and lastly Mary 1month old.
Samuel married Mary Ann Nutter in the Sept. quarter in Burnley. In the 1911 census Samuel was 25 and a cotton weaver, Mary Ann 22 also a cotton weaver, Robert 1 and James 1 month old, living at 22 Firth St., Burnley.
From the Burnley News dated 24th April 1915: ANOTHER NEUVE CHAPELLE VICTIM.
Private John William Asnip was killed whilst serving in the 2nd East Lancs on March 11th. A letter was sent home to his wife by a comrade-Private Samuel Clarke who said Private Asnip had been killed by a German sniper.
From the Burnley Express dated 11th September 1915: EVERY MAN A HERO. OFFICERS TRIBUTE TO BURNLEY SOLDIERS.
Definite news has been received of the late Private Samuel Siddell Clarke, of the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, third son of Mr and Mrs Clarke of 6 Argyle Street Burnley. Private Clarke who is 29 years of age was working as a weaver at Messrs Catlows Shed on Trafalgar Street when war broke out, and on August 29th of last year he joined the new army. Later he was attached to the 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment and drafted to the front.Anxious to know what had happened to him his parents wrote to the front and received the following letter from Lieutenant W A Long: "in answer to your letter of the 15th July asking for news of your son Private Clarke, I am very sorry to have to inform that he was killed on the 19th of May during an attack on the German trenches. I am more sorry than I can say to have to write and tell you this, but may I be allowed to add that I am proud to belong to a company with men like your son in it. Every man on that day was a hero. That will not bring him to life I know, but still it is something to know that he and the others died doing their best for the country."
On September 1st the War Office Road: " in reply to your letter, it is regretted that no particulars have been received in this department concerning the death of the late Private Clarke, 2nd East Lancashire Regiment, except that he was killed in action on May 9th 1915, at Aubers Ridge."
Private Clarke was a widower and leaves two little son's aged 5 and 4, and a little girl aged 3. He was married at St Catherine's Church. A brother-in-law of his, Private Henry Smith is serving with the Scottish Rifles, and another brother-in-law Privates Sculley of the 6th East Lancashire Regiment has been wounded in action at the Dardanelles. Mrs Clark has also just heard that her sister's husband, Private C Huby, of the 6th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, whose home is at 6 Croft Street, Church, has been killed at the Dardanelles.
Samuel left his effects to his widow Mary Ann.
According to the CWGC memorial book, Samuel was killed in action at the battle of Aubers Ridge, the son of Mary Ann Clark who lived at 8 Argyle Street., Burnley. Three other Burnley lads lost their lives in this battle; Albert bass, Francis Burns and Edward Cullen.
Samuel is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium: Panels 5 & 6.
