Jim Clark's Dad

[George Armstrong Custer]

One of my interests outside of military/naval history is motorsport, and I've just been reading Eric Dymock's fine biography of Jim Clark - twice F1 world champion and with a record of achievement that leads many to continue to regard him as the greatest driver this country produced. He is certainly still revered as one of the most gentlemanly of F1 Champions. Jim Clark was killed tragically young, of course, in a race accident at the Hockenheim circuit on 7 April 1968. Clark was born at Kilmany (pronounced Kilmeny), Fife, where his farmhouse birthplace still stands, and a life-size bronze statue of him in racing overalls strides alongside the verge at the side of the road as a tribute to a local hero.

The Dymock biography makes clear, however, that the future world champion's father was also something of a hero during the Great War - and moreover, that he kept a diary of his time as a POW of the Germans. Frustratingly, the book gives no direct quotes from this diary and left me wondering whether the diary is amongst the Jim Clark memorabilia at the small museum to him at Duns in the Borders (near Chirnside whence the family moved from Fife in 1942). The book has this to say of Jim Clark's father's involvement in the Great War:

'His father's generation had been through the first world war and the depression of the 1930's. Born in 1897, James Senior had been brought up to sheep-rearing, looking after lambs when he was 12. At 17 he joined the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, trained in Suffolk, was drafted into the Black Watch, a kilted regiment, and sent to the Western Front. He trudged through the trenches, and had bitter memories of the wretchedness and the rain, and the French turning off the water supply, leaving soldiers parched, dirty, and starved. He never forgave the French for that.

He survived the slaughter, but in the dying months of the conflict, during the winter of 1918, he was captured near Cambrai and imprisoned in a coal mine near Essen. The Germans treated him well although his diary revealed that Red Cross parcels were a vital increment to his meagre diet. The family kept relics of his experiences, including a dictionary given him by a guard so that he could learn German. He also had the complete works of Robert Burns, much of which he committed to memory. It was fully a year before he was fit enough to return to farming.'

ciao,

GAC

[ian turner]

GAC,

Interesting - looks to be too many James Clark, Black Watch to easily ID his MIC. Wonder if a post under POW section might throw up somehting?

Ian

[George Armstrong Custer]

Ian, I checked back in the book on the off chance that there was a middle name or initial for Clark's dad that might help narrow it down - but no. I wonder if his time with the F&FY might be mentioned on an MIC - maybe a Territorial number as well as the number assigned when he went to the Black Watch?

ciao,

GAC

[truthergw]

It might be worth an inquiry to Balhousie Castle in Perth, the Black Watch's museum.

[Northern Soul]

My only claim to fame is that my Great-great-grandmother was Jim Clark's Great-aunt. Obviously there is some scope for further research of a WW1 connection here. Bet he would have been proud to have me as a relative

[ian turner]

Here's the only Clark that I found in both regiments:

Medal card of Clark, John

Corps Regiment No Rank

Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 2414 Private

Royal Highlanders 345302 Private

And if spelt with the 'e':

Medal card of Clarke, William

Corps Regiment No Rank

Fife and Forfar Yeomanry 1614 Private

Royal Highlanders 345042 Private

Seems to have been a transfer of Clark(e)s to the BW!

I guess none are our man though....

Ian

[George Armstrong Custer]

Thanks for checking back, Ian. Clark Senior was definitely a 'James'. I'm still a bit puzzled by the Dymock book saying he joined the F&FY as a 17 year old (which would have been in 1914, making him a volunteer), but then saying that he was 'drafted' into the Black Watch. Drafted?

TomR - that's a good suggestion re checking whether Balhousie have anything. I think Tom McC may have contact with them already - maybe if he does, and sees this, he could run a check on it next time he's in contact with them?

ciao,

GAC

[ian turner]

GAC,

I guess read 'transferred' for 'drafted'? As you know, nothing unusual and certainly

possible looking at the above Clark(e) F+FY/BW candidates!

If he went overseas with the BW then the chances are his previous F&FY (UK only) service does not show up on the MICs.

Or maybe, if really keen, it would take a trawl through all the BW James Clark MICs to see if reference to F&FY ever appears on one, but which did not get transcribed onto the online database.

At which point I might withdraw to the comfort of my pipe and slippers.....

Ian

[truthergw]

Clark is an awfy common name in Dundee.

[IanA]

I know Jim Clark's cousin, Jim Clark, and will ask.

[IanA]

Jim, Jim's cousin does not know but he has given me the phone number of Jim's sister/ daughter/ cousin (depending on which Jim we are talking about) and she is likely to know.

Back soon.

[George Armstrong Custer]

I envy your Clark contacts there, Ian! Be very interested to read anything you can learn - particularly if any of the family can tell you the current whereabouts of Clark Senior's Great War diary.

ciao,

GAC

[PhilW]

Off topic I'm afraid, but some quite good quality film of Jim Clark on youtube. see for example his wins at Spa (in rain) and the old Nurburgring

[IanA]

Jim's daughter was contacted and she said the diary still existed and was with her sister. This second sister was said not to like receiving 'this sort of phone call' so sister No.1 was persuaded to call sister No.2 and the following information was gained.

She confirmed that he was first in the F&FY and then the Black Watch. The diary is sparse and covers the period March-November 1918. He was kept down a coalmine near Essen and the diary mostly contains references to letters and parcels received from home.

An interesting aside is that, after the war, Paul Maze DCM, MM and bar visited Jim's farm to paint various scenes including the Buccleuch Hunt.

Ian

[George Armstrong Custer]

Fast work, Ian, thanks for the confirmation of the diary's whereabouts - glad to hear its still with the family. Paul Maze's visit to the Clark farm must have been to the one at Chirnside, given that he painted the Borders-based Buccleuch Hunt. This would make the date of Maze's visit 1942 or after, when the Clark's had moved from Kilmany in Fife, the future world champ's birthplace. With Maze a former Scots Greys man, and Jim Clark Senior having enlisted with the F&FY - and both serving in the Great War - their conversation would have been an interesting one to listen to!

ciao,

GAC

[Black Watch]

Thanks for checking back, Ian. Clark Senior was definitely a 'James'. I'm still a bit puzzled by the Dymock book saying he joined the F&FY as a 17 year old (which would have been in 1914, making him a volunteer), but then saying that he was 'drafted' into the Black Watch. Drafted?

ciao,

GAC

1st battalion F&FY became the 14th BW in 1916

possibly this is what was meant.

Neil

[ian turner]

IanA

Probably strectching our luck with the family, but is it too much to hope that the diary shows Jim Clark Sr's service number? I presume not, but am emboldened to ask!

Ian

[IanA]

Ian, as I don't know the elderly lady who has the diary, I hesitate to ask but I will ask her sister (who may know it anyway). I'll get back.

[George Armstrong Custer]

Ian - I take it the elderly sisters you refer to are two of Jim Clark the racing driver's sisters? According to Dymock, he had four sisters - all older - being Mattie, Isobel, Susan and Betty. Do you happen to know if all four are still alive? Also, when did their father James Clark - of Great War service - pass away - I believe he was still alive when Jim Clark was killed racing at Hockenheim in 1968? Please only answer if you can easily find out without disturbing any of the family - I quite understand your not wanting to annoy them with persistent questions - they must have endured questions about their famous brother all their lives, and now someone's starting about their father!

ciao,

GAC

[IanA]

The one we are speaking to is Betty and, obviously, there is at least one other. They both still live in Berwickshire. We'll give Betty another ring - she seems quite happy answering questions since we are known to Jim.