Trafford

Born during the June quarter 1885 in the Prestwich R.D. - ref: 8d/316, the
eldest son of Joseph & Elizabeth Goodwin Clarke (nee Morris).

1891 Census - 183 Higher Road, Urmston.    Son - aged: 6 - born: Openshaw,
Manchester.   Head of household - Joseph Clarke - Married - aged: 30 - occ:
Fireman Stationary Engine and Preacher & Methodist - born: Oswestry,
Shropshire.   Also - Elizabeth G. Clarke - Wife - aged: 29 - born: Alderley
Edge, Cheshire.  Plus - 2 younger siblings.

Attended St. Anne's Church School.

1901 Census - 9 Essex Road, Sale.    Son - aged: 16 - occ: Greengrocer -
born: Bradford, Manchester.  Head of household - Joseph Clarke - Married -
aged: 40 - occ: Engine Driver (Stationary) - born: Oswestry, Shropshire.  
Also - Elizabeth G. Clarke - Wife - aged: 39 - born: Alderley Edge,
Cheshire.  Plus - 5 younger siblings.

Married Alice Ann Morris at the United Methodist Church, Dickenson Road,
Rusholme on the 30th March 1910 during the March quarter 1910 in the
Chorlton R.D. - ref: 8c/1470.  Coincidentally - his mother's maiden name
was also Morris.

1911 Census - 11 Alice Street, Sale.   Head of household - Married - aged:
26 - occ: Insurance Agent & Clothing Collectors Club - born: Manchester.  
Also - Alice Ann Clarke (nee Morris) - Wife - aged: 26 - born: Manchester. 
 His parents ran and resided above a Fruiterers Shop at 172 Northenden Road
at this time.

Member of Sale Primitive Methodists Church.     Employed as an Agent by the
Royal Liverpool Friendly Society.

WO363 - Attested on the 6th December 1915 and Mobilised at Chester on the
6th June 1916.    Employed as an Insurance Agent, residing at 11 Manor
Road, Sale, aged 30 years 280 days.   Height: 5 feet 4¾ inches - Expanded
chest: 34½ inches with a 2 inch expansion - Methodist.   2nd Class Shot.  
 Joined the 38th (Reserve) Battalion, South Lancs Regiment on the 7th July
1916.   Transferred to the 3rd Battalion on the 28th August 1916.    Posted
to France on the 16th September 1916 into the 2nd Battalion.    Missing,
presumed dead on the 21st October 1916.

Serving with the 75th Brigade, 25th Division, the Battalion lost over 300
men during the first few days of the Battle of the Somme 1916, plus another
150 in August/September.    Albert joined the Battalion on the 17th
September when the Battalion was being rested and in training in the
Abbeville area.   They returned via Amplier, Léalvillers and Bouzincourt
to the Orvillers Sector at the end of September, when they began reserve
line duty in the Hessian Trench and Zollern Redoubt.    They moved forward
into Stuff Redoubt on the 19th October, ready for an attack on Regina
Trench on the 21st.    Albert died whilst attacking Regina Trench.

His death was reported in the 17/08/1917 edition of the Altrincham
Guardian.

Left a widow and a young son - Joseph Morris Clarke, born 7th June 1912.   
His namesake nephew - Albert Morris Clarke was killed in WW2.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.