Clarke, James
Rifleman
No. 19/494, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on 16 August 1917 (aged 33)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 138 to 140 and 162 to 162A and 163A)
Ballygowan War Memorial
Ballygowan Presbyterian Church
BIOGRAPHY
The name James Clarke is listed on the Memorial Plaque in Ballygowan Presbyterian Church and in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) Roll of Honour 1914 – 1919 he is described as a Private in the 19th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
James Clarke was born on 30 July 1884 at Knockbracken and he was a son of James and Sarah Jane Clarke (nee Cairnduff, sometimes Carnduff) who, according to 1911 census returns, were married around 1881/1882. James and Sarah may, or may not, have been married and, if they were, their marriage may not have been registered.
Sarah Cairnduff had a son before she and James Clarke were married:
William Cairnduff (born 2 December 1881 at Knockbracken; subsequently he used the surname Clarke)
James Clarke Senior worked as a labourer and he and Sarah had six children:
Robert (born 30 March 1883 at Knockbracken)
James (born 30 July 1884 at Knockbracken)
Samuel (born 18 July 1888 at Killinure)
John (born 31 July 1890 at Crossnacreevy)
Margaret (Maggie, born 29 May 1894 at Slatady)
Catherine (born 12 December 1898 at Granshaw)
James Clarke Junior worked as a labourer before he enlisted.
James Clarke and Maggie Meharry were married on 26 July 1916 in Belfast Registrar’s Office. James Clarke (aged 32), a Private in the 19th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles was a son of James Clarke, a labourer. Maggie Meharry (aged 21) from 49 Dunvegan Street, Belfast was a daughter of James Meharry, a labourer.
James and Margaret Clarke (nee Meharry) had one child:
Mary (born 4 February 1917 at Ballygowan)
On 16 August 1917, Rifleman James Clarke (No. 19/494) was posted as missing in action and later it was officially confirmed that he must be presumed to have died on or since that date.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects his widow Margaret was recorded as his sole legatee. In other records, her address was recorded as Tullygirvan, Ballygowan, and her date of birth was recorded as 25 December 1894.
Rifleman James Clarke (No. 19/494) has no known grave, and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium, on Ballygowan War Memorial, and in Ballygowan Presbyterian Church.
His brother Samuel enlisted on 23 December 1914 in Belfast and served with the Royal Engineers Signal Company (No. 57884). In his attestation papers it was noted that he was 5 feet 3 inches tall.