Denzil Harwood Clarke (1896-1973)
Civil Engineer's son born in Sri Lanka served with 13th DLI awarded DSO
Denzil Harwood Clarke, the son of Charles Harwood and Helen Rose Clarke, was born in Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] in 1896. He had two brothers and two sisters and came to England shortly after he was born. He lived with his father’s sister and her husband in Bromley, Kent until he was appointed 2nd lieutenant in the 13th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) in September 1914.
Denzil landed in France on 25 August 1915 and, the following year, was awarded both the Military Cross (MC) and a Bar to it. He was later promoted to temporary captain and then temporary major before being promoted to acting lieutenant-colonel on 27 September 1917 when he took command of the battalion. He was wounded in March 1918 but returned to take command of the battalion in April and he remained in command until he was wounded again in October. He retired on 18 April 1921 and in June left for Shanghai in China.
In the early 1930s he married Aiko Ito in Tokyo but she died and in 1949 Denzil returned to England and married Grace-Muirhead Gould, a widow. The couple seem to have moved to Jersey, where their wills were proved.
His award of the Military Cross was gazetted on 27 July 1916 and the citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry. Lt. Clarke, with another officer, led a successful raid on the enemy’s trenches. At least twelve of the enemy were accounted for, and five deep occupied dug-outs were bombed. Owing to their skill and the rapidity of action there were only three slight casualties in their party”
The award of the Bar to his MC was gazetted on 25 November 1916 and the citation reads:
“For conspicuous gallantry in action. He led his company in the attack with great courage and determination. Later he assumed command in the front line and carried out his orders with great skill”.
There is no citation for his DSO which was gazetted on 1 January 1918.
Birth date: 1896
Death date: 1973
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: ‘Windermere’, 26 Oaklands Road, Bromley, Kent (1901 Census & UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1921)
Brighton College, Brighton, Sussex (1911 Census)
17, Netherby Court, Beaumont, St Peter, Jersey (1973 Jersey probate)
Education: Brighton College, Brighton, Sussex (1911 Census)
Employment: Consul (UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1921)
Family: Father: Charles Harwood Clarke
Mother: Helen Roade Clarke (nee Chapman)
Siblings: Phillip, Miles Harwood, Dorothy Constance Harwood (whose husband, Harry Subremont Weston was also in the 13th DLI), & Estelle Mary Harwood Clarke
Wives: Aiko Ito (Died 1935) & Grace Clarke (Previously Muirhead-Gould and Tribe, nee Riseley)
Military service:
13th Battalion Durham Infantry
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross & Bar
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards
