Trafford

Born at Sale during the June quarter 1893 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref:
8a/187, the only son of Levi & Mary Clare (nee Horsham).  Birth registered
as Bertie Edgar Clare.

1901 Census - Mains Lane, Lowton, Lancashire.    Son (listed as Bertie
Edgar) - aged: 8 - born: Sale.    Head of household - Levi Clare - Married
- aged: 37 - occ: Gardener (Domestic) - born: Rixton, Lancashire.    Also -
Mary Clare - Wife - aged: 35 - born: London.  Plus 1 elder sister also born
at Sale.

1911 Census - 6 Main Lane, Kenyon, Lancashire.    Son - aged: 18 - occ:
Engineer Driller - born: Sale.   Head of household - Levi Clare - Married -
aged: 46 - occ: Gardener (Domestic) - born: Rixton, Lancashire.    Also -
Mary Clare - Wife - aged: 46 - born: Granby Street, Waterloo, Near Lambeth,
London.

His father - Levi Clare died in 1915 - aged: 51.   

WO363 - Enlisted as Bertrum Edgar Clare at Leigh, Lancashire on the 20th
January 1915 and posted into the Royal Army Medical Corps.   He was then
aged: 21 years 275 days and employed as an Electrician, residing at High
Peak Cottage, Kenyon, Leigh, Lancashire.   Height: 5 feet 6½ inches -
Weight: 130 lb - Expanded chest: 37 inches with a 3 inch expansion 
Transferred to the 3rd Battalion, Border Regiment on the 2nd June 1915.   
Forfeited 6 days pay for being absent from the 9th August to the 14th
August 1915.     Posted to the 1st Battalion, Border Regiment on the 23rd
September 1915.    Posted to the Dardanelles on the 10th October 1915 - the
only reference there is to Gallipoli.     

Posted to France on the 11th March 1916.    Admitted to 87 F.A. (Field
Ambulance) on the 15th May 1916 suffering from an abscess to his lower
face.    Admitted to 29 C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) on the 17th May
1916 suffering from I.C.T. (Inflammation of Connective Tissue) to his face.
  Transferred to the 22 General Hospital, Cammiers on the 18th May 1916.   
Arrived at 29 I.B.D. (Infantry Base Depot) at Rouen on the 15th June 1916. 
 Rejoined Battalion in the field on the 6th July 1916.   His sickness only
delayed his almost inevitable death.   The 1st Battalion were virtually
wiped out on the first day of the Battle of the Somme - 1st July 1916.  
Out of nearly 1,000 men they had lost 619 by the time they withdrew to
Acheux on the 2nd.   It was probably at Acheux that Bertie rejoined his
Battalion.    They moved to Mailly-Mallet on the 17th July and then went
into the front line south of Beaumont Hamel (where the Newfoundland
Regiment was virtually wiped out on the 1st) on the 22nd.  Moved to
Bus-lès-Artois on the 24th, then to Amplier on the 25th.    They entrained
at Doullens for Proven on the 27th July.   They were then out of the front
lines until they arrived at Longueau on the 8th October 1916, when they
marched to Allonville.  To Buire on the 10th, Fricourt on the 13th,
Bernafay Wood on the 19th and into Switch Trench on the 20th.  They moved
into the front line at in the Gueudecourt Sector - Grease Trench and Gap
Trench on the 21st, where Bertie as killed.

Formerly 50340 Royal Army Medical Corps.