41742, Private, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
Missing In Action on the 10th September 1917 aged 19
Private William Charles Clark
William was the son of Percy John & Emma Clark of 55 Walkern Road, Stevenage. His older brother, Percy George, served with No.4 Company of the Hertfordshire Regiment.
He was to lose his life during The Third Battle of Ypres, commonly referred to as the Battle of Passchendaele. The offensive was launched on 31st July 1917 and continued until the fall of Passchendaele village on the 6th November. Although it resulted in gains for the Allies it was by no means the breakthrough General Haig intended, and such gains as were made came at great cost in human terms. The area had seen the heaviest rains 30 years and this, combined with the intensive shelling, had turned the ground into a hellish morass. William’s Battalion was involved in a heavy period of fighting in the Hollebeke sector and, following an action in Rossignol Wood, had moved to a Reserve area near Berthen.
It is believed that William lost his life when the area was shelled by German artillery.
He has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium. (Reference: Panel 35/37.)
Medal Entitlement: British War Medal & Victory Medal
