Clark, Thomas Harold: Service no. 745257

Source: March 1917 casualty.

Son of Thomas and Thirza Clark, of Port Perry, Ontario.

Summary of Service for Private Thomas Harold Clark, reg. no. 745257

Date	Event	Remarks
June 14, 1886	Born	Place of birth hard to decipher. Port Perry area.
April 13, 1916	Anti-Typhoid Inoculation	First of a course of three inoculations.
June 6, 1916	Vaccinated	Signed off by James Moore, Medical Officer.
June 30, 1916	Completes form H.A. 54-21-23-53	This form is titled “PARTICULARS OF FAMILY OF AN OFFICER OR MAN ENLISTED IN C.E.F.” This form was to be completed “immediately” when a soldier is informed that they are part of a draft going overseas. Basic family information.
June 30, 1916	Makes out Will	Private Clark bequeathed his real estate and estate to his mother, Thirza Clark, of Port Perry, Ontario.
July 14, 1916	Anti-Typhoid Inoculation	Second of a course of three inoculations.
July 18, 1916	Anti-Typhoid Inoculation	Third and last of a course of three inoculations.
July 23, 1916	Embarks for England	Via the S.S. Olympic from Halifax, Nova Scotia.
July 31, 1916	Arrives in England	Arrives Liverpool, England.
October 5, 1916	Transferred from 116^th Bn. to 18^th Bn.
October 6, 1916	Taken on Strength in the Field	Arrives at the Somme 3 weeks after the battle of Flers-Courcelette. He arrives the same day that Major G.F. Morrison assumed command of the 18^th Battalion, replacing Lieut-Colonel Wigle.
March 13, 1917	Killed in Action	Note that the War Diary relates three men killed that day. Only two were, according to the C.W.G.C. records. The other was Sergeant William Edward Helps. The 18^th Battalion War Diary relates: Position as yesterday. 4:15 am Enemy attempted a raid on our outposts on the right flank of frontage due north of VISSEE group of craters. At 4 am red and green flares fired from German front line appeared to be the signal for the heavy bombardment which followed directed to our front and support lines. Our outposts consisting of six bombers and 3 Lewis gunners, 1 sgt. were in the act of withdrawing to front line. The raiders approached in two parties, about 30 men in all. Two bombers [Pte.] R. Walker [vii] and W.H. Webster [viii] who were covering the withdrawal of outpost #16 [spread] fire on the Huns and Pte. Walker claims three. One Hun managed [to] creep up to one of the Bombers and said in English “Come with me.” Pte. Webster managed to break away and continued to throw bombs with good effect. One Hun was afterwards found by LIEUT. TUCK who secured identification. Our casualties were 3 killed [ix] and 14 wounded by enemy shell fire.
March 23, 1917	Cable M602	“Killed in Action. (no date given inquiries being made regarding)
March 27, 1917	Cable M789	Referring to my telegram Mar. 23^rd, 1917 M602. Date of Death now ascertained to be March 13^th, 1917.
February 13, 1918	Army Form W3372	Graves Registration Report Form indicates that Private Clark is buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont. St. Eloy, Pas-de-Calais, France in Plot IV, Row F, Plot 24. Private Clark is buried along with 1727 other combatants. He is buried along with 12 other 18^th Battalion comrades. He is buried beside his brother-in-arms, Sergeant William Edward Helps, reg. no. 654401, who died the same day.