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Edward Clark (1896-1918)


Haswell man served in the Royal Naval Reserve on HMS Iphigenia at the raid on Zeebrugge


Edward Clark was born on 31 March 1896 in Haswell. His father was coal miner George Clark, born in Cassop in 1864. His mother was Francis Clark, born in 1871 in West Cornforth. The 1911 census reports his parents had been married for 23 years during which time 11 children had been born, of whom seven were surviving. Edward had six known brothers and one known sister. In 1901 the Clark family lived at 12 Swinbank Cottages, Seaham. In 1911 they were living at 35 William Street, Millfield, Sunderland.

Edward served in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). He was rated as a stoker with the service number 6084/S. He took part in the raid on Zeebrugge on 23 April 1918 when the Royal Navy attempted to block the Belgian port to prevent its use by U-boats. The action was undertaken by a battalion of Royal Marines supported by volunteer sailors such as Edward. The British suffered 583 casualties in the action including 227 dead. Edward was killed in action aboard HMS Iphigenia. This was one of three vessels sunk as blockships during the raid. His body was not recovered for burial and he is honoured on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Edward Clark was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.

Civil Parish: Sunderland

Birth date: 31-Mar-1896

Death date: 23-Apr-1918

Armed force/civilian: Navy

Residence: 12 Swinbank Cottages, Seaham (1901 census)
35 William Street, Millfield, Sunderland (1911 census)

Family: Parents: George Clark (b 1854), Francis Clark (b 1871)
Siblings: George Clark (b 1889), Peter Clark (b 1893), William Clark (b 1898), Ambrose Clark (b 1902), Fred Clark (b 1905), George Clark (b 1907), Ada Clark (b 1909)

Military service:

6084/S
Stoker
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Iphigenia

Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal

Memorial(s): Chatham Naval Memorial

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham