The 1901 census on Ancestry.co.uk shows us that the Clark family was living at 134, Prospect Villa, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.
The family comprised of, Head Arthur Clark age 31 born in Bristol an Auxiliary Postman by trade. His wife Rose was aged 31 also born in Bristol She was a Charwoman by trade. Their listed children were Willie aged 12, Albert 10, Arthur 5 and Mable 3. There were also two Boarders, George Beard, 34 a Warehouse Carter by trade and Fanny Southcott 50 a Charwoman.
Ten years on in 1911 we find the family living at 2, Kingston Buildings, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. The Head of the household was Arthur Clark 39, a House Painter and Decorator for the Corporation. His wife Rose was 43 years of age and their children were, Arthur 15, Mabel 13, Harold 9, Rose 7, Sidney, and Bertie 3. Willie Clark shown on the previous census was absent as was Albert Clark.
Albert’s family were listed on the 1921 Canadian Census on Ancestry.co.uk They were living at 376 Wellington, Toronto South. There were some additions to the family, Colston was 9, Walter aand Ernest Onward were both 7. Both Walter and Ernest Onward had been born in Ontario. The family had emigrated in 1913.
Albert Clark’s Army records tell us that he enlisted into the Canadian Field Artillery on 6th May 1918 in Toronto. He gave his trade as Pipe Fitter and his next of kin as Rose Clark , address 376, Wellington St. West Toronto, Canada. After training in Canada Albert embarked from Canada on board The S.S. Themistocles and arrived in England on 25th September 1918. On arrival in England Albert was posted to Whitley Camp and then on to Kinmel Camp in North Wales.
Unfortunately Albert contracted Influenza and comments on his Service and Casualty Form show that Albert became dangerously ill and died on 23rd October 1918 at Kinmel Park Military Hospital.
(From Library and Archives of Canada Service Files of 1st WW 1914-1918).
Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many succumbed to the Influenza Epidemic or complications associated with this infection.
Albert was awarded The British War Medal.
He is buried at St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan, North Wales, U.K
He is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
Some additional information that has been supplied by Diane Gleed, the grand daughter of Albert’s sister Mabel. She has also been kind enough to send me some photographs of the family. These photographs can be seen by scrolling down below the google map.
Diane advised me that Albert emigrated to Australia initially and then joined his family in Canada. There is a photograph of Albert on a train after he enlisted before he embarked for England.
There is a photograph of Albert’s mother Rosina with daughter Mabel.
There are two photos of Albert’s father Arthur who joined the Canadian Expeditionery Force on 1st May 1916 age 45. He served in France (Somme and Vimy) and died in Toronto in 1927 of heart issues that were attributed to shock during WW1 and a contributory cause of his death was disease related to him having been gassed whilst serving.
Albert’s older brother William remained in England and served with the 3rd Dragoon Guards. There is a photo of William with his regiment in Egypt in 1914 at the beginning of WW1. William married in England and the couple removed to Toronto in 1923.
There is a photograph of twins Walter and Ernest born in 1913 in Canada dressed in uniform, they knew that their dad and brothers were or had been involved in WW1.
Many thanks to Diane for the valuable information and photographs.
