Lieutenant John F Clarke

John Francis Clarke was born in Wallasey in 1915 and resided in Liverpool, when he enlisted, and initially served with the Royal Armoured Corps.

John Francis Clarke was commissioned into The Northamptonshire Regiment on the 10th February 1942. [1]

He was promoted to war Substantive Lieutenant on the 1st October 1942. 

He volunteered airborne forces, whilst stationed in the Middle East, and was posted to the 156 Parachute Battalion. He did parachute course 39 at RAF Ramat David, 9th - 14th May 1943. [2]

He then volunteered for the 1st Airborne Division Provost Company and was posted to them on the 13th July 1943, whilst they were stationed in North Africa. He served with the Company in Italy from September to November 1943. [3]

Upon return to the United Kingdom he spent a long period in Lincoln Military Hospital, 11th February to 15th March 1944, and on the 17th March he was granted 14 Days Sick and Privileged Leave. [4]

He was posted to 108 Provost Company on the 17th May 1944, [5] and went with them to France at the end of June 1944 to support the build up of the British 12th Army Corps.

A month later, having volunteered, as a replacement officer for the 6th Airborne Division, he was posted to the 8th Parachute Battalion, and assigned to ‘A’ Company on the 24th July. By the 4th August it would appear he was assigned to ‘C’ Company as he is noted in the War Diary: “1430 hrs - Lt Clarke and 2 men ‘C’ Coy patrol into woods on left boundary. Spotted probable enemy standing patrol. Drew fire.”

The next time he is mentioned is during the break-out phase of the Normandy campaign, Operation ‘Paddle’. Taken from the War Diary: 25th August 1944. 0530 hrs - Bn was ordered to move off as soon as it had fed in general direction of BEUZEVILLE 6409.

0800 hrs - Bn moved off behind 9th Bn and passed through it and S.S. (Special Service – Commando] Bde at 605075. C.O. was told that BEUZEVILLE was clear and therefore went forward in a carrier to recce. On arrival at Bridge 627087 he found it recently blown and concluded that the enemy still held the town. He therefore directed the Bn round the S.S. [Special Service – Commando – Brigade] to X roads 640078. Just before reaching this point a wireless message was received to the effect that the enemy were on the X roads and within a few minutes the leading Platoon of ‘B’ Coy ran into them at about 1200 hrs. 2 Pl’s were sent round the flank and the X roads were cleared. ‘C’ Coy then followed through with the object of reaching the X roads at 645079 and ‘A’ Coy, with 2 tanks of the Armoured Recce Regt, made for the Railway Bridge at 637081 and secured it. ‘C’ Coy were meeting with a certain amount of resistance from the area of buildings 641075 and ‘A’ Coy began to move up the railway with the object of securing the station. ‘C’ Coy then reported that they were being counter attacked but this in fact proved to be a force withdrawing from the south where Commando’s were operating. ‘A’ Coy was withdrawn and sent down the lane to X roads 649080 supported by tanks. ‘A’ Coy reached objective by 2100 hrs approx and Bn then consolidated its position. ‘A’ Coy area 649080, ‘B’ Coy 645079, ‘C’ Coy 641075, Bn H.Q. ‘A’, M.M.G., Anti Tank X roads 640077, Bn H.Q. ‘B’ and Mortars 636076. Total prisoners 8. Casualties 1 Officer Lt. Clarke and 14 O.R.s killed, 1 Officer Maj. Shoppee and 16 O.R.s wounded, 3 O.R.s missing. R.A.P. dealt with 23 other casualties from S.S. Brigade’s.

He was killed in action 25th August 1944, whilst attached to the 8th Parachute Battalion in Normandy, listed as coming from the 2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, aged 26. He is buried in Ranville C.W.G.C. War Cemetery, Normandy.

NOTES: [1] London Gazette. 10/02/42

              [2] 156 Parachute Battalion War Diary. May, 1943. 

              [3], [4] & [5] 1st Airborne Division Provost Company, C.M.P. War Diary 1943 & 1944