Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.C.M. awarded to Serjeant J. Clarke, 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, who died of wounds on 18 June 1915

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (6931 Sjt. J. Clarke, 1/Nth.’ld. Fus.) edge bruising, very fine £600-700

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 June 1915. ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the night of 14th April, 1915, when after a mine had been exploded in front of the house he was in and half the garrison were wounded or buried, he gallantly rallied the remainder to man the trench. It was largely owing to his untiring efforts that so many men were extricated.’

John Clarke was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire and enlisted at Liverpool. Serving in the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 13 August 1914 and was awarded the 1914 Star with clasp. Serjeant Clarke was wounded in action on 16 June 1915 and died of his wounds two days later. He was buried in the Kemmel No. 1 French Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. John Clarke was the son of Joseph and Annie Clarke. With copied m.i.c. and casualty details.