CLARK, Samuel

Samuel Clarke lived in Brick-kiln Street, Brierley Hill, and had possibly served as a regular soldier before 1914. He volunteered for the South Staffords and went to the 8th (Service) Battalion which after home training was sent to the Western Front in July 1915 as part of the 17th Division. They were posted to the Ypres sector which, though regarded as quiet, was still a dangerous area. An attempted attack at Hooge was unsuccessful and the Staffords suffered serious casualties in a German attack in February 1916.They were in the front line for the first day of the Somme on the 1st July and were one of the few units to make a substantial advance when Fricourt was taken. They attacked again on the 9th July, but without artillery support they lost many casualties. Among them was Private Samuel Clarke who was killed on the 10th July. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.