BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS TO EDWARD ALBERT CLARK-NORFOLK REGIMENT-KILLED IN ACTION ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SOMME

British War and Victory Medal, named to:
3-10478 PTE.E.A.CLARK.NORF.R.
Medals about good very fine, on silk ribbons.
3/10478 Private Edward Albert Clark 8th Bn., Norfolk Regiment was killed in action on 01/07/1016.
He was born at St.Margaret's Lowestoft and enlisted at Lowestoft.
He is commemorated on The Thiepval Memorial Arrived in France on 25/07/1915-entitled to the 1914/15 Star.Comes with copied research.

The following information has been supplied with the permission of "Our Fallen Lowestoft" Website administrators:

Edward Albert Clark

A Private with the 8th Battalion, Edward died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 39.

Edward was born at Lowestoft on 14 October 1876, a son of Abraham and Emily Clark. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 5 November 1876. In 1881 his family lived at Princes Road. In 1891 their address was 19 Princes Road. Later his parents lived at 15 Ipswich Road.

On 10 January 1914 Edward married Ellen Maria Reynolds at Saint Margaret’s Church. Edward was a fisherman living at 63 Beccles Road and Ellen lived at 2 Corton Road. Later Ellen lived at 49 Reeve Street.

Edward volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Norfolk Regiment, service number 3/10478. He was posted to the 8th Battalion and arrived in France, with the battalion, on 25 July 1915.

On 1 July 1916 the 8th Battalion were involved in an assault on the German trenches north of Carnoy, and south-west of Montaubin. At 7.27 a.m. the first waves deployed form the trenches without loss. Mine Trench was reached and crossed almost with little opposition and without loss. C Company took 30 prisoners. Bund Support was reached and taken by 8 a.m. At this point the leading companies came under very heavy enfilade fire and suffered heavily. Men advanced to Pommier Trench but were then held up by machine gun fire and a strong point. By 3 p.m. B Company had taken The Loop and the assault companies advanced to take the Montaubin Alley line, the battalion’s final objective. In doing so C and D Companies took heavy casualties. At 6 p.m. consolidation work was undertaken and, from 8 p.m., there was a continuous bombardment on the battalion’s positions.

Casualties during the attack were:
Officers: two killed, one died of wounds, eight wounded
Other ranks: 102 killed, 219 wounded, 13 missing

Edward was among those killed in action on 1 July.

PrimarySource
CWG

Code: 53997