Albert Clark
Personal History
Popular belief would suggest that most of the men that died for their country in WW1 were single 18-20 year olds. On closer inspection something lesser known is revealed. In the village of Port Dalhousie in February of 1916, 18 men signed for military service. On average their age was 25.6.
Signing on February 5th, Albert Clark, at the age of 34, was an anomaly even among this group. He was a rubber worker who lived on Canal St. with his wife Annie and their 5 children between the ages of 5 and 14.
He had already done 2 years of home service with the 44th Regiment. He arrived in England on September 22 1916 and spent the winter at Witley Training Camp, south of London. On 18th of March 1917 he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion CFA in the field in France. Almost certainly the next month would have been involved in training for the upcoming Battle of Vimy Ridge in which he would have participated on April 9 1917 and shared victory.
His service record shows various trips to and from the hospital. On Nov 1st 1918 he was dangerously wounded and died the following day.
The thing that stands out most on his record is a notation from June 3 1918: "Sentenced to stoppage of pay to the amount of 2/10 for losing Gov't property. One water bottle."
Nine days after Albert Clark died, the was was over. He was survived by his wife Annie, his sons Murvin, age 16 and Lorne, 15, his two daughters Alma and Hazel, 11 and 9, and Harold, age 7.
Personal Information
Birth date: September 28 1881
Birthplace: Toronto
Wife: Annie Clark, Simcoe St., Port Dalhousie
Occupation: Rubber Worker
Military Information
Service Number: 317872
Rank: Pte.
Regiment: 3rd Battalion, Can. Field Artillery
Theater of Service:
Date of Death: November 2 1918
Age: 37
Length of Service: 2 Years 8 months
Last Battle: Valenciennes
Burial Details: Cambrai Military Cemetery, Cambrai, France Grave Reference: II A 3
Commemorations: Commemorated on Page 385 in the Book of Remembrance
Photos:
Popular belief would suggest that most of the men that died for their country in WW1 were single 18-20 year olds. On closer inspection something lesser known is revealed. In the village of Port Dalhousie in February of 1916, 18 men signed for military service. On average their age was 25.6.
Signing on February 5th, Albert Clark, at the age of 34, was an anomaly even among this group. He was a rubber worker who lived on Canal St. with his wife Annie and their 5 children between the ages of 5 and 14.
He had already done 2 years of home service with the 44th Regiment. He arrived in England on September 22 1916 and spent the winter at Witley Training Camp, south of London. On 18th of March 1917 he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion CFA in the field in France. Almost certainly the next month would have been involved in training for the upcoming Battle of Vimy Ridge in which he would have participated on April 9 1917 and shared victory.
His service record shows various trips to and from the hospital. On Nov 1st 1918 he was dangerously wounded and died the following day.
The thing that stands out most on his record is a notation from June 3 1918: "Sentenced to stoppage of pay to the amount of 2/10 for losing Gov't property. One water bottle."
Nine days after Albert Clark died, the was was over. He was survived by his wife Annie, his sons Murvin, age 16 and Lorne, 15, his two daughters Alma and Hazel, 11 and 9, and Harold, age 7.
Personal Information
Birth date: September 28 1881
Birthplace: Toronto
Wife: Annie Clark, Simcoe St., Port Dalhousie
Occupation: Rubber Worker
Military Information
Service Number: 317872
Rank: Pte.
Regiment: 3rd Battalion, Can. Field Artillery
Theater of Service:
Date of Death: November 2 1918
Age: 37
Length of Service: 2 Years 8 months
Last Battle: Valenciennes
Burial Details: Cambrai Military Cemetery, Cambrai, France Grave Reference: II A 3
Commemorations: Commemorated on Page 385 in the Book of Remembrance
Photos: