Clarke, William
Private
No. 8908, ‘G’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Killed in action on Thursday 29 October 1914 (aged 29)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 38)
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
William Clarke was born on 25 May 1885 in Wallace’s Street, Newtownards and he was a son of William John and Margaret Clarke (nee McMillen, sometimes McMillan) who were married on 1 August 1879 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). William John Clarke (aged 20), a weaver from Wallace’s Deed, Newtownards was a son of William Clarke, a weaver. Margaret McMillen (aged 19) from Movilla, Newtownards was a daughter of Alexander McMillen, a labourer.
William John Clarke worked as a weaver and he and Margaret had at least nine children:
Hugh (born 30 June 1880 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Jane (born 12 October 1881 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
Eliza (Lizzie, born 21 January 1884 in Movilla Street, Newtownards)
William (born 25 May 1885 in Wallace’s Street, Newtownards)
Eleanor (born around 1887)
Agnes (born 21 September 1889 in Greenwell Street, Newtownards)
Mary (born 30 January 1892 in South Street, Newtownards)
James (born around 1894)
Margaret (born 25 December 1899 in South Street, Newtownards)
Their mother Margaret died of tuberculosis on 1 October 1906 (aged 46).
In 1901 William Clarke (aged 15) was working as a cord polisher.
William Clarke enlisted on 19 August 1903 and during the Great War he served with the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry.
Private William Clarke (No. 8908) was killed in action on 29 October 1914 and he has no known grave.
Private William Clarke (No. 8908) is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial and on Newtownards and District War Memorial.
In CWGC records it is recorded that Private William Clarke (No. 8908) was a son of William John Clarke of Bow Yetts, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland and the husband of Maggie Young McKenzie (formerly Clarke) of 27 Dean’s Row, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland.