Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (21756 Sjt. W. H. Clarke. North’n. R.) very fine £30-£40

William Henry Clarke was born in Shropshire in 1872 and originally attested for the Cheshire Regiment in 1889. Following the outbreak of the Great War he attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Chelsea on 20 August 1914 and served at home with both the 6th and 9th Battalions. Advanced Sergeant on 20 September 1915, he transferred to the newly formed 1st Garrison Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment on 27 September 1915 and embarked from Devonport on 24 October 1915. On 8 November he was charged with being drunk on ammunition guard and resisting an escort whose duty it was to apprehend him whilst at sea; on landing at West Mudros on 11 November 1915 he appeared before a Field General Court Martial and was reduced to the ranks. He later transferred to the Army Pay Corps on 12 April 1918, was promoted Corporal, and was discharged to the Reserve on 23 July 1919.