Mar 7, 1893

Born in Toledo, Ohio, USA to Frederick and Alice (nee Dashnau) Clarke

Apr 18, 1911

Enlisted into the New York National Guard, “D” Company 3^rd Infantry, 48^th Trooper Company

Oct 17, 1913

Married to Winnifred Wood in Ogdensburg, New York, USA

Nov 18, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 59164 (temporary number 1224)

Ø  Next of kin given as Alice Clarke, 82 Mitchel St., Oswego, New York, USA

o   This was changed to read Mrs. Bella Clarke, 13 Bond St., Seaford, Sussex, England

Ø  He first stated that he was Single, but that was changed to read Married

Ø  Previous occupation given as Machinist

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

o   Later noted as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to the Base Unit and employed as a Drummer in the battalion’s Brass Band

The battalion trained in the Kingston area through the winter with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

On attesting he stated that he was single and born in England March 7, 1892.  None of that was in fact true, as he was born in the USA March 7, 1893 and had a wife in Oswego, New York, USA

Jan 4, 1915

Married to Isabella Johnson in Kingston.  It seems that he was still married with a wife in the USA

He had Separation Pay assigned to a Mrs. Isabella Clarke whom he declared to be his wife, in Kingston, Ontario until it was discovered that she was not his legal wife and the payments were stopped.  By this time his legal wife was discovered to be living in Antwerp, New York

From his pay records

May 4, 1915

Private Clarke was discharged from the battalion at his own request

May 5, 1915

Private Clarke had a change of heart as the battalion was preparing to depart for England and was taken back on the strength of the battalion and posted to the Depot Company

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

May 23, 1915

Admitted to the Canadian Moore Barracks Military Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Pleurisy.  This was changed to read Pneumonia

Jul 2, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jul 7, 1915

Forfeited 3 day’s pay for being absent from July 5 to July 7

Aug 28, 1915

Posted to “B” Company from the Depot Company

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Apr 10, 1916

During heavy fighting at the St. Eloi Craters in Belgium, Private Clarke had carried Mills Bombs to the front line fighting and was returning to the battalion headquarters with a message when he was struck in the back of the head with a fragment from a Jack Johnson shell.  He was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 17 Casualty Clearing Station where surgery was performed to remove a piece of steel from his scalp

Apr 11, 1916

Transferred to the No. 4 Canadian General Hospital in Camiers, France

Apr 15, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

May 1, 1916

Transferred to the West Cliffe Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone

Patient complains of headaches when reading and is diagnosed with Photophobia, sensitivity to light, and amber lenses were prescribed for his glasses

While in hospital, he developed influenza

May 30, 1916

Discharged from hospital and attached to the 1^st CCD (Canadian Convalescent Depot) for 4 weeks of Physical Training

Jun 21, 1916

Forfeited 6 day’s pay for being absent

Jul 5, 1916

Attached to the 1^st Canadian Convalescent Depot Staff for duty at Monks Horton Hospital

Jul 20, 1916

Ceased to be attached to the convalescent depot and transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling

Jan 4, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling.  Shortly after the formation of the battalion it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Jul 12, 1917

Attended the West Cliffe Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone for an eye exam

Mar 25, 1918

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Colitis

Apr 15, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Apr 17, 1918

Readmitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital in Eastbourne with a diagnosis that reads Photophobia

May 20, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jun 6, 1918

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Jun 7, 1918

Arrived at the #2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France as part of a draft of 286 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jun 23, 1918

After leaving the base depot, Fred Clarke joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast as part of a draft of 20 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

Aug 6, 1918

Before he could leave the camp to join the 21^st Battalion, Private Clarke was transferred to the 2^nd Battalion

Aug 11, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Clarke joined the 2^nd Battalion resting in Beaucourt-en-Santerre, France

Sep 8, 1918

Transferred back to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 9, 1918

Private Clarke rejoined the 21^st Battalion on the Droucourt Queant Line north of the town of Queant, France

Oct 7, 1918

Granted 14 days leave

Oct 24, 1918

Admitted to the West Cliff Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone with a diagnosis of Influenza while on leave and transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Nov 7, 1918

Discharged from hospital and embarked for France

Nov 8, 1918

Joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in Aubin St. Vaast, France following his discharge from hospital

Nov 24, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian General Base Depot in Etaples

Dec 29, 1918

Proceeded to England and transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot and attached to the Canadian Composite Brigade in Bordon

Jan 24, 1919

Transferred to No. 4 Wing at Kinmel Park, Wales pending return to Canada

Feb 4, 1919

Appointed to the rank of Acting Sergeant while employed as the Sergeant of the Permanent Guard, Wing 3, Kinmel Park, Rhyl

Feb 6, 1919

To draw pay for the rank of Corporal

May 20, 1919

Embarked the SS Regina in Liverpool

May 28, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

May 31, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Acting Sergeant

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 277763

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge 47 East 12^th St., Oswego, New York, USA

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 2608 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia

Mar 18, 1920

Fred Clarke married again, this time to Lottie Louise Gaundrone in Vancouver, British Columbia

He stated his religion to be Presbyterian

I could find no disposition of either of his previous marriages