Rolls of Honour – Casualty Details

Biography

Born 16/01/1876. Son of the late William James George Clark (died 14/02/1903) and the late Fanny Clark (nee Warren). In both 1881 and 1891 he and his family lived at 7 Berkeley Place, Clifton, Bristol.  In 1901 he lived at 48 Berkeley Place, Clifton, Bristol and in 1911 he lived at 1 Eldon Place Lower Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol. He worked as a house painter / decorator. He married Louisa Evans on 15/05/1902 at St John the Evangelist Clifton and they had three children, Irene Muriel Clark, born 10/10/1902 and baptised 07/12/1902 at Clifton, St Andrew, Constance Clark, born 1904 but sadly died at or near birth and Gilbert Douglas Clark, born 24/11/1912 and baptised at Clifton St. Andrew 05/01/1913. His wife Louisa died on 22/01/1915 at Clifton, Bristol. He married Blanch Kate Harris in early 1919 at Long Ashton, Somerset. His son, Gilbert Douglas Clark, died on 03/09/1924, aged just 11 and it was mentioned that he was a regular visitor to St Andrews Clifton on practice night with his father who was the Conductor of the Clifton Society.  Both he and his second wife died at 5 Bellevue Crescent, Clifton, when their house, and number 4 Bellevue Crescent, were struck by a high explosive bomb during an air raid. Also present, and also killed, was Rose Elizabeth Harris, sister of Blanche Kate Clark. Four people died at 4 Bellevue Crescent and a Home Guard / Firewatcher, Hubert Collins, also died in the vicinity. When his death was mentioned in The Ringing World it was said he had rung around 350 peals including the first and second peals of Clifton Surprise Royal. His first peal, ringing the third to Stedman Caters was rung on 24/09/1898 at St Stephens Bristol conducted by William A. Cave. Among his many peals included the first on the 12 at St Mary Magd Taunton, Stedman Cinques, on 26/05/1923. A large number of his peals were rung at St Stephens Bristol but other towers included, St Mary Redcliffe, All Saints Bristol, Christ Church Bristol, St James Bristol, St Peter Bristol, SS Philip and Jacob Bristol, St Nicholas Bristol, Barrow Gurney, Clevedon, Clifton (St Andrew), Corston, East Tytherley, Henbury, Kingsdown, Long Ashton, Portishead, Sherfield English, Southampton (St Mary), Trowbridge, Wraxall and Wrington. Methods included Stedman Triples, Stedman Caters and Stedman Cinques, Grandsire Caters, Cambridge Surprise from Major to Maximus, New Cambridge Surprise Major, Bristol Surprise Major, London Surprise Major, Double Norwich CB Major and Forward Major. I am not certain he did ring as many as 350 peals but he was certainly quite prolific.