Cecil George Clarke – Scots Guards, 1st Battalion

Company Serjeant Major Cecil George Clarke – Scots Guards, 1^st Battalion

Birth and Family Background

George Clarke and Emily Harris
marriage certificate
Parish Church of Elsfield, Oxfordshire

Cecil George Clarke was born in 1884 in Swansea, the son of George Clarke and Emily Harris, who were married in 1878 at the Parish Church of Elsfield, Oxfordshire.

1891 Census

At the time of the 1891 Census, the Clarke family were living at 119 Bramber Street, Brightside Bierlow, Sheffield. George Clarke (39), born in Somerset, was employed as a clerk in charge of a book stall, while his wife Emily (35) was born in Oxfordshire. Their children were Eva M. (12), Cecil (7), and Leonard H. (2).

Early Military Service

In 1900, Cecil George Clarke enlisted in the Scots Guards, initially serving with the 3rd Battalion. Following its disbandment, he was transferred to the 1st Battalion.

1901 Census

By the time of the 1901 Census, Cecil was recorded as Charles G. Clarke, aged 19, serving as a Private in the Army and stationed at Wellington Barracks, Westminster, London.

Overseas Service – West Africa

1911 Census

At the time of the 1911 Census, Cecil was still serving and had risen to the rank of Colour Serjeant with the West African Regiment, stationed at Wilberforce, Sierra Leone. He served in West Africa from 1910 until 1914, gaining extensive experience in overseas and colonial service.

First World War Service

At the outbreak of the First World War, Cecil was on furlough and rejoined the Scots Guards, 1^st Battalion, returning to active service with his regiment. He served with the British Expeditionary Force in France from April 1915.

By April 1916, the 1^st Battalion Scots Guards was holding trench positions in the Loos sector, an area that had remained dangerous following the heavy fighting of 1915. The battalion was engaged in front-line trench holding, night patrols, and working parties, all carried out under frequent German artillery bombardment. Even during periods without major offensives, casualties were common due to shrapnel and high-explosive shellfire.

On 5^th April 1916, while serving in these front-line conditions, Cecil George Clarke was severely wounded by shrapnel while in the trenches. His injuries reflected the constant risks faced by experienced senior non-commissioned officers supervising men under fire.

Wounds, Death, and Burial

Cecil George Clarke
Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France
credit - findagrave

Cecil was evacuated to No. 22 General Hospital, where he died of his wounds on 24^th April 1916. At the time of his death, he held the senior rank of Company Serjeant Major.

He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

Cecil George Clarke’s life and service reflect that of a career soldier, whose long professional experience carried him from pre-war enlistment and overseas service to the relentless trench warfare of the Western Front, where he ultimately made the supreme sacrifice