WORLD WAR I
Bingham War Memorial
Service Record
| 99107 (SF) 18618 (APC) |
Corporal Benjamin Clarke | Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Army Pay Corps |
born 1881 |
| Army pension records | His medical history form completed initially on 8th December
1915 (presumably when he originally attested) shows he was 5 feet 2½
inches tall, weighed 109 lbs and had a chest measurement of 33 ½
inches (2” expansion). His physical development was said to be “good”.
He had 6/6 sight, bad teeth and brown hair. He was said to have” well marked VV [Varicose Veins] in both legs”. He was classified B2 and it was noted “Fit for sedentary work only”. But, possibly later, this was crossed out. The form was amended and over stamped on 25th March 1916 and again on 12th January 1917 the date on which he was transferred to the Pay Corps. It would seem his condition was ignored by those in command for a couple of years. Service in the Pay Office was probably seen to be suited to his background as an insurance agent. He seems to have only served in Northern No 2 Command and probably did not serve abroad. A box on a form asking, inter alia, in what countries he had serves was crossed out. One form noted that he had been medical grade C3 – probably rendering him unfit for service overseas and may be why he transferred to the pay Corps. Another form certified he had never been injured during his service. Discharged with service number 18618 at Clipstone Camp. Address given as Long Acre, Bingham. |
Insurance Agent | |
| AVL and Roll of Honour | RoH shows he served on the “Home front”. AVL gives service details as based in Nottingham and Bingham address as Long Acre. | ||
Family history etc
| Corporal Benjamin Clarke | |||
| 1881 | Born Bingham | ||
| Census 1891 | Living on Grantham Road, Bingham with: Father: William, b.1845 Bingham Mother: Mary, b.1845 Stathern Leicestershire Siblings: Ada, b.1876 Bingham John, b. 1878 Bingham George Elizabeth, b.1883 Bingham Ellen, b. 1886 Bingham and Grandmother: Susan Clarke (nee Jackson),b.1803, Barkestone, Leics. |
scholar Plate Layer Errand boy Scholar Scholar Scholar |
William’s parents were Joseph (agricultural labourer) and Susan of Grantham Road. |
| Census 1901 | Lived on Grantham Road with Father: William Mother; Mary Siblings: John Nellie (Ellen?) |
Compositor (printing) Platelayer Tinker in tin goods |
Census shows “Clark” not “Clarke” |
| Census 1911 | Lived on Grantham Road with: Father: William Mother; Mary Siblings, George b.1889 (Notts) Ellen (Nellie?),b. 1886 (Bingham) |
Insurance Agent Railway plate layer butler |
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| 1911 | Married Nellie Sleigh, b1882, the daughter of George Sleigh of Long Acre, Bingham, | Tailoress Railway Permanent Way Instructor, (L&NW). |
The Sleigh family were quite accomplished. Nellie’s sisters were: a blouse overlocker, dressmaker and shorthand typist. Her brother was a railway clerk (GNR). |
| Free BMD | Daughters: Joan b Bingham 1916 Janet b Bingham 1924 |
Janet’s birth certificate confirmed Benjamin’s occupation as Assurance Agent, so clearly he returned to his pre-war occupation. |
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| B Clark was a founder member of the Bingham branch of The Royal British Legion. | Adelaide Wortley (in “A History of Bingham) writes of Benjamin’s father: ‘’William Clarke, another grand old man of Bingham, ninety five years old in 1940, was a keen gardener, especially skilled in grafting, and a lover of nature. In this he found much happiness, watching bird life and studying the flora of this district. His family has happy memories of ‘a kingfisher on his rod,’ for he was an ardent fisherman, of his enticing a hare by a clever imitation of its call, of his wondering refusal of help in his garden in his old age, of his love of hard work as a railwayman in his youth. Such a man has left his mark on the history of Bingham.’’ | ||
| Electoral register | 1921-1930 Benjamin and Nellie lived on Fairfield Street. They
are not listed on subsequent Electoral Registers for Bingham 1931 Fanny Clarke, Fairfield Street |
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| 1939 Register | 68 Kimbolton Avenue, Radgord Nottingham Ben S Clarke, b 30 August 1881, married Nellie Clarke, b. 27 November 1881, married Joan Clarke, b. 5 March 1916, single One closed record |
Pipe fitter’s labourer Unpaid domestic duties Shorthand typist closed record is probably Janet |
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| Free BMD | Nellie, died Bingham 1950 Benjamin died aged 84 at City Hospital Nottingham 7th November 1965. He was a retired Maintenance Fitter at a cycle works. He lived at 17 Fairfield Street, Bingham Probate granted to Joan Clarke and Janet Clarke, spinsters; £2064 |
Informant was daughter Joan Clarke, 17 Fairfield Street, Bingham. |
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