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Remembered Today:

Major E. L. Clarke. Welsh Regiment?


high wood

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Another recently acquired photograph that I am struggling to positively identify. The photograph is purportedly circa 1910. The back of the photograph has two intertwined captions. The boldest states: Grandfather. Major E.L. Clarke. Above the word grandfather someone has added, H.L. Thompson's. Below the word grandfather someone has added, on mother Lucy Gertrude's side.

I am wondering if we can start by confirming that the uniform that the uniform is that of a Major in the Welsh Regiment. I think that it probably isn't and that he might be a Sergeant-Major.

Thank you.

post-6480-0-75728800-1423160940_thumb.jp

post-6480-0-23065700-1423160953_thumb.jp

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I thought it might be Major Edward Lloyd Clarke, 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion, Cheshire Regiment who had a daughter called Lucy Gertrude - but he is certainly not wearing a Cheshire's cap badge (although it does look a little like an Earl of Chester's Yeomanry badge). Can anyone confirm what cap badge this Volunteer Battalion would have worn before 1908?

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I thought it might be Major Edward Lloyd Clarke, 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion, Cheshire Regiment who had a daughter called Lucy Gertrude - but he is certainly not wearing a Cheshire's cap badge (although it does look a little like an Earl of Chester's Yeomanry badge). Can anyone confirm what cap badge this Volunteer Battalion would have worn before 1908?

I think that we have the right man as his daughter Lucy Gertrude Clarke married an Alan K Thompson as below.

Marriages Dec 1919 Clarke Lucy G Thompson Northwich 8a 676 married Thompson Alan K Clarke Northwich 8a 676

They had a son, Henry L Thompson whose birth was registered in Northwich in the December quarter of 1925.

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He is wearing a scarlet patrol frock with white facings (collar and cuffs), something that both the Welsh and Cheshire Regiments would have worn, but not the Yeomanry, who wore blue. His cap badge, however, seems to be Welsh regiment. The white cap covers were introduced for summer wear in 1902. He is correctly dressed as a major in Marching Order (both braces of Sam Browne) and would not have been mounted at that time. Government provided horses were not given to company commanders until the change to the 4-company organisation in 1914 (1915 for Territorials).

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Frogsmile,

thank you for the clarification. I have found a London Gazette entry that states: 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer battalion, the Cheshire Regiment. Edward Lloyd Clarke. Gent, to be Second Lieutenant. dated 11th July, 1894. I have yet to find out when he became a Major.

Simon.

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I thought it might be Major Edward Lloyd Clarke, 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion, Cheshire Regiment who had a daughter called Lucy Gertrude - but he is certainly not wearing a Cheshire's cap badge (although it does look a little like an Earl of Chester's Yeomanry badge). Can anyone confirm what cap badge this Volunteer Battalion would have worn before 1908?

I think that you have the right man. Thank you for your help.

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Frogsmile,

thank you for the clarification. I have found a London Gazette entry that states: 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer battalion, the Cheshire Regiment. Edward Lloyd Clarke. Gent, to be Second Lieutenant. dated 11th July, 1894. I have yet to find out when he became a Major.

Simon.

That is very interesting as I was not aware that that battalion was still wearing it's old VRC cap badge after it was merged with the regular Cheshire Regiment. After 1908 they became the 5th (EofC) TF Battalion Cheshire Regiment. It is an exceedingly rare image and I have not been able to find any others online.

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Kipling and King do not illustrate the cap badge worn by officers of the 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, only the other rank's helmet plate worn between 1880 and 1887.

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Kipling and King do not illustrate the cap badge worn by officers of the 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion, The Cheshire Regiment, only the other rank's helmet plate worn between 1880 and 1887.

The best place to find an image of the badge is through the various specialist dealers websites.

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Frogsmile,

thank you for the clarification. I have found a London Gazette entry that states: 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer battalion, the Cheshire Regiment. Edward Lloyd Clarke. Gent, to be Second Lieutenant. dated 11th July, 1894. I have yet to find out when he became a Major.

Simon.

Lieutenant 20 November 1895

Captain 20 June 1900

Honorary Rank of Major 25 February 1908

His first appointment as a Second Lieutenant is in the Gazette under his full name, Edward Lloyd Clarke, subsequent promotions under "E L Clarke" - I looked them up yesterday but I'm afraid I didn't copy the links.

C

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Lieutenant 20 November 1895

Captain 20 June 1900

Honorary Rank of Major 25 February 1908

His first appointment as a Second Lieutenant is in the Gazette under his full name, Edward Lloyd Clarke, subsequent promotions under "E L Clarke" - I looked them up yesterday but I'm afraid I didn't copy the links.

C

Thank you for looking this information up for me. It is appreciated.

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The experts on the British and Commonwealth Military Badge Forum have confirmed that he is wearing a 2nd (Earl of Chester's) Volunteer Battalion cap badge.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=297817&posted=1#post297817

Thank you to every contributed to this thread as the photograph of another identified individual has been rescued from the dustbin of history.

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