Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Newcomer to Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Location
    Lancashire, England
    Posts
    2

    Default FOREMAN ARTIFICER/MECHANICAL SERGEANT WW1

    After the death of my wife's parents, surname CLARKE, we found a handwritten diary detailing the writers involvemnt in WW1 from enlisting on 08/08/1914 as a Foreman Artificer with 51 Company ASC, being immediately promoted to Mechanical Staff Sergeant,embarking in France on 20/08/1914, moving to HQ No. 1 Section in September 1914 and then entering Belgium. He was involved in repairing vehicles & moving ammunition. The book ceases in December 1914. The CLARKE family were Blacksmiths by trade from the Manchester Area, but no family record shows anyone to be the writer, but the book returned to the Uk and was hidden in personal possessions. Where do I go next ?

  2. #2

    Default

    Does the book include the writer's service number(s)? Forenames? They sometimes had more than one because the system changed in mid-war. Also if they changed regiments, their number also changed.
    If you haven't done it already, it might also be useful to research his parents, siblings and maybe even grandparents, to find out which Clarke men were of the right sort of age to be the author.
    When my G-Uncle was killed in the Anglo-Boer war, his possessions were returned to his mother.

  3. #3
    Newcomer to Brit-Gen
    Join Date
    Jan 2022
    Location
    Lancashire, England
    Posts
    2

    Default

    Afternoon, the book contains no personal details, I have researched and believe that it will be a member of my wife's 'grand parents family' all born 1860-1885 as 'great grand parents' died pre WW1 however none of the male side of the family who were all blacksmiths show up as serving in WW1 but all survived the war. As the writer joined as an 'Foreman Articer' who would have been skilled, that's why I have tried the 'blacksmith' route but then promoted 'Mechanical staff Sergeant'.

  4. #4

    Default

    There were many kinds of blacksmith (one in my one place study was repairing bicycles). Men of the right age would have had to serve unless of a reserved occupation. I don't know whether smithing was reserved. Of course, he could just have been a friend in the trenches.
    Were their cousins also smiths?

  5. #5
    Super Moderator christanel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
    Location
    Wairarapa New Zealand
    Posts
    10,676

    Default

    Because the book finishes in December 1914 I wondered whether the writer was killed in Dec 1914, January 1915 so I started searching on the CWGC site (which I don't find as user friendly as it once was} Using the surname Clarke, WW1, army, United Kingdom, there were over 2000 results but on hitting the Refine Results button it lists them from 1914 onwards.
    The only one so far in the ASC is a W J Clarke buried in France but was in the 169th company. You know the first names so it would be easier searching for you to see if you recognise anyone.
    Christina
    Sometimes paranoia is just having all the facts.
    William Burroughs

  6. #6
    Famous for offering help & advice
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    England
    Posts
    1,440

    Default

    I don't think anyone enlisting on 8 Aug would be sent abroad on 20th unless they were in the reserves having already been discharged from earlier service. Does it definitely say 'enlisted'?

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Select a file: