Major Hilary Basil Clarke

[crodgers]

Hi everybody

I have been extrordinarily luckly lately to be able to acquire various named items (hence my frequent requests) from the first world war.....(my passion). I have acquired for my collection a 1897 Pattern Royal Engineers Sword with the intials H. B. C. on the blade.

After poring over the Army lists for the late 1890s and 1914 I have determined that the sword was owned by one Hilary Basil Clarke Royal Engineers.

I have done the Ancestry, National Archives, London Gazette and obligitory google searches and have come up a bit short on what branch or the Engineers he was a part of.

I do know from entries in the LG that he was awarded a Indian pension when he retired so one thinks that his early service may have been in India???

Here's what I have so far....

Hilary was born around 1880 in Aden

Graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1899

Lieutenant 1902

Captain 1909

Placed temporarily on the half-pay list on account of ill health 1911 and restored to the establishment 1912

Temp Major 1916

Staff Captain 1917 held position till 1920

Awarded the Legion d'honneur Croix de Checalier 1917 (not sure what for or why)

Retires 1926 on an Indian pension

For the life of me I can't find any details of where he was posted, what he did prior and during the war and why he received a Indian pension and a Legion d'honneur Croix de Checalier for that matter.

The R.E. Museum wasn't much help....they don't take research requests and suggest I employ a researcher.

So I am hoping a Royal Engineers buff may have a bit of information that may assist me.

Thanks in advance

Cam

[crodgers]

Hi again...I have located a further snippit

The 1914 Hart’ s Annual Army List had Hilary Clarke posted at Brompton Barracks, Gillingham.

I am still hoping someone can assist with Hilary's pre war/ war service

Thanks in advance

Cam

[sotonmate]

Cam

Did you manage to find his service record at Kew ? There are a few files but with the single initial H CLARKE and no rank,this in the WO339 series.Maybe someone here with a WO338 Index can tell you if one of these is he,if in fact,as it seems,you haven't seen his record.

Might he have gone to serve with the Indian Army at either end,or both ends, of his career? I understand that Indian Army records for British Officers are at the British Library in London.

Sotonmate

PS the word is Chevalier(Knight)on the French decoration.

[Old Owl]

Hi Cam,

Checking on Ancestry there is no medal index card for your man, however there is a card for an SWB for a Lt Col H.Clarke, R.E. This gives an address: Loughton Hall, Loughton, Essex.

Could this be your man?

Robert

[crodgers]

Hi Sotonmate

yes I managed to locate his medal card at Kew....I had previously searched ancestry and got nothing....

I couldn't find a Indian Army list to check to see if he appears ....being in Australia poses a bit of problem researching british soldiers

Robert

I am currently investigating your suggestion and will let you know directly

Thanks for your time

Cam