Senior Reserve Attendant William George Clark Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve and St John
The Man William George Clark was born on Saturday 28th July 1883 at 12 Junction Street, Coventry, son of William Henry, a Watch Cap Maker and Rose Anne nee Hiorns. He had one older sister Annie Florence born in 1882 and was Baptised in the Parish of St Thomas on 15th August.
In 1891 aged seven he was living with his family at 5 Lloyds Row, Foleshill and in 1901 aged 17 at 52 Boston Place, where, following his education he was employed as a Moulder at a local Machine Tool Makers.
In about 1905, William joined the St John Ambulance Brigade (SJA) with number 1673 and enlisted into the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve (RNASBR) with service number 441 as a Sick Berth Reserve Attendant (SRA), which had been created in 1903, members being recruited from the St John Ambulance Brigade that would provide medical orderlies and attendants on ships during times of war.
During the second quarter of 1908 aged 23 he married Harriet Mary Stew in Foleshill. They had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary born in 1909 and one son Reginald William born in 1913 and lived at Rosa Dene, Longford Coventry.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 William aged 31, was mobilised and engaged for one year’s service in the RNASBR on 6th August 1914 as a SRA with a new service number M9412. He was described as 5’.3½“,with a 35” chest, dark brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. He served in HMS Pembroke, a shore establishment, his conduct was given as very good and his ability Satisfactory.
He was awarded the British War Medal 1914-18, the criteria for the RN being 28 days mobilised service, without a requirement for overseas service. It is likely his occupation was reserved as he continued serving in the RNASBR and SJA following the war and awarded The Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in ADM 171/71 on 14th February 1920. The medal was created in 1903 and it was identical to the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct medal equivalent, but the letters ‘RNASBR’ appear after the recipient’s name. He was also awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John having been promoted to Corporal in the Foleshill and Longford Division, No 3 District, the same year and served another ten years being awarded two additional clasps.
In later life William lived with Harriet and Gwendoline at 249 Holbrook Lane in Coventry and he worked as a Moulder at the Alvis Works based in Holyhead Road. On 11th October 1934 aged 51, William had a seizure whilst at work during the late afternoon and collapsed. He was taken by ambulance to the Coventry and Warwickshire hospital where he was the next morning, described as still very ill.
William died on 24th November 1934 of a cerebral haemorrhage at Gulson Road Municipal Hospital, leaving £470.7s.6d (£34,500.00 in 2022) to his wife. He was buried in St Paul’s Cemetery, Coventry on 28th November.
In the 1939 register Harriet and Gwendoline were still living at 249 Holbrook Road, Harriet passing away on 20th February 1963, Reginald on 30th September the same year aged just 51 and Gwendoline in 2007 aged 97.
William’s records show a mixture of his surname spelled as Clarke and Clark.
In 1891 aged seven he was living with his family at 5 Lloyds Row, Foleshill and in 1901 aged 17 at 52 Boston Place, where, following his education he was employed as a Moulder at a local Machine Tool Makers.
In about 1905, William joined the St John Ambulance Brigade (SJA) with number 1673 and enlisted into the Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve (RNASBR) with service number 441 as a Sick Berth Reserve Attendant (SRA), which had been created in 1903, members being recruited from the St John Ambulance Brigade that would provide medical orderlies and attendants on ships during times of war.
During the second quarter of 1908 aged 23 he married Harriet Mary Stew in Foleshill. They had one daughter, Gwendoline Mary born in 1909 and one son Reginald William born in 1913 and lived at Rosa Dene, Longford Coventry.
Following the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914 William aged 31, was mobilised and engaged for one year’s service in the RNASBR on 6th August 1914 as a SRA with a new service number M9412. He was described as 5’.3½“,with a 35” chest, dark brown hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. He served in HMS Pembroke, a shore establishment, his conduct was given as very good and his ability Satisfactory.
He was awarded the British War Medal 1914-18, the criteria for the RN being 28 days mobilised service, without a requirement for overseas service. It is likely his occupation was reserved as he continued serving in the RNASBR and SJA following the war and awarded The Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in ADM 171/71 on 14th February 1920. The medal was created in 1903 and it was identical to the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct medal equivalent, but the letters ‘RNASBR’ appear after the recipient’s name. He was also awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John having been promoted to Corporal in the Foleshill and Longford Division, No 3 District, the same year and served another ten years being awarded two additional clasps.
In later life William lived with Harriet and Gwendoline at 249 Holbrook Lane in Coventry and he worked as a Moulder at the Alvis Works based in Holyhead Road. On 11th October 1934 aged 51, William had a seizure whilst at work during the late afternoon and collapsed. He was taken by ambulance to the Coventry and Warwickshire hospital where he was the next morning, described as still very ill.
William died on 24th November 1934 of a cerebral haemorrhage at Gulson Road Municipal Hospital, leaving £470.7s.6d (£34,500.00 in 2022) to his wife. He was buried in St Paul’s Cemetery, Coventry on 28th November.
In the 1939 register Harriet and Gwendoline were still living at 249 Holbrook Road, Harriet passing away on 20th February 1963, Reginald on 30th September the same year aged just 51 and Gwendoline in 2007 aged 97.
William’s records show a mixture of his surname spelled as Clarke and Clark.
The Story The medals awarded to William George Clarke were acquired from Norman W Collet on 24th October 1921. They had been seen for sale a few weeks earlier at Aberdeen Medals and of interest because of the double long service and specifically the Coventry connection.
However, whilst pondering their acquisition they were sold, only to reappear some weeks later on Norman W Collet’s web site. Their second appearance took no deliberation and were ordered straight away.
The medals came with most of the research completed, but Ancestry.UK and wills enabled a little further detail to be added.
Following enquiries with Coventry Bereavement Service, the location of William’s grave was located and visited on 11th May 2022. It was interesting to see that the headstone was relatively new and very clear and that William’s wife Harriet and son Reginald were buried in the same grave.
William’s old addresses in Coventry were also visited, the only house still standing was found on 249 Holbrooks Lane, in pretty much the same condition it would have been in when he lived there! Rosa Dean, Holbrooks and 2 Lloyds Row could not be located, Junction Street has no houses on it and 52 Boston Place no longer exists. Some of the houses having possibly been destroyed during the blitz in World War II.
Photographs of the streets and graveyard are in the links below.
However, whilst pondering their acquisition they were sold, only to reappear some weeks later on Norman W Collet’s web site. Their second appearance took no deliberation and were ordered straight away.
The medals came with most of the research completed, but Ancestry.UK and wills enabled a little further detail to be added.
Following enquiries with Coventry Bereavement Service, the location of William’s grave was located and visited on 11th May 2022. It was interesting to see that the headstone was relatively new and very clear and that William’s wife Harriet and son Reginald were buried in the same grave.
William’s old addresses in Coventry were also visited, the only house still standing was found on 249 Holbrooks Lane, in pretty much the same condition it would have been in when he lived there! Rosa Dean, Holbrooks and 2 Lloyds Row could not be located, Junction Street has no houses on it and 52 Boston Place no longer exists. Some of the houses having possibly been destroyed during the blitz in World War II.
Photographs of the streets and graveyard are in the links below.
William George Clark's grave, Foleshill St Paul's Cemetery, Coventry
Medal Details:
- 1914-18 British War Medal: M9412 W.G.CLARK. S.R.A. R.N.
- Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve LS&GC Medal: 441.W.G.CLARK. S.R.A. R.N.A.S.B.R.
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: 1673 CPL.W.G.CLARKE. (FOLESHILL & LONGFORD) DIV NO 3 DIST 1920
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This page last updated 13 May 22
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