Clarke, Frank Llewellyn Hamilton: Service no. 53092

Source: November 1915 Casualty.

Family Search: When Private Frank Llewellyn Hamilton Clarke was born on 16 December 1886, in Corning, Steuben, New York, United States, his father, Stephen P Clarke, was 33 and his mother, Eva May Mulford, was 30. He registered for military service in 1913. In 1914, at the age of 28, his occupation is listed as baker. He died on 5 November 1915, in Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium, at the age of 28, and was buried in Ieper, West Flanders, Belgiu

Interesting notation on Attestation papers, page 1: Discharged 4th March 15. Deserter from 15th Feb. Retaken on strength 11 March.

Article in The Elmira New York Morning Telegram, November 28, 1915

FRANK HAMILTON CLARKE

A YOUNG MAN, A NATIVE OF CORNING KILLED FIGHTING WITH THE ALLIES

Corning, N. Y., Nov. 27—Frank Hamilton Clarke, aged twenty-seven a former member of the choir of the Christ Episcopal church in this city, was killed on the morning of November 5, in an attack by the allied troops on the western German line in Flanders. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Clarke, of Zion City, Ill.

His father was for several years caretaker of the First Presbyterian Church of Corning.

After serving two enlistments in the United States army, Frank H. Clarke, with several comrades, went to Canada and took service in the second Canadian expeditionary force, as a member of company A, Eighteenth Battalion.

Word of Clarke’s death came to his mother in a letter from his platoon commander, who wrote as follows:

“Your son, Frank H. Clarke, was killed in action this morning. He was shot through the head and killed instantly. He died like a good soldier, with his face to the enemy. He was one of the first of his platoon to leave the trench on the charge. He was a true soldier through and through.”

Frank Clarke was unmarried. Besides his parents he leaves two sisters, Miss Myrtle Rosalie Clark and Mrs. Henry Seys of Zion City, Ill. Three of his uncles live in this vicinity, Uri Mulford of Corning, Ed. R. Mulford of Wellsboro Pa., and Nye W. Mulford of Painted Post.