Upchurch at
War 1914-1918
Of the
34 Upchurch men who died in the Great War of 1914-1918 memories of them have
faded with time but surviving documentation gives a detailed account of two who
were well known in the village and who experienced some of the heaviest
fighting and worst conditions of the war on the Western Front.
Percy
Hales joined the Grenadier Guards just before the Great War and intended to
make the army his career. The youngest son of Jacob Hales, a stockman from
Horsham Farm, Percy became one of the first soldiers to be sent to the European
mainland and fought in the early battles of 1914 which he survived unscathed.
Having impressed his regiment he quickly gained promotion to corporal then to
sergeant. According to his obituary in the East Kent Gazette his letters sent
home were full of hope and showed a sense of duty. When on leave he often
visited his old school at Holywell. He was killed on his 21st
birthday in France on September 6th, 1917. Reverend F C Walmesley,
the regimental chaplain wrote to his family:
I regret to inform you that Sergeant Hales was brought to
this clearing station on the 6th instant severely wounded by a shell
in the head, leg and thigh. Everything possible was done for him, but his case
was hopeless and he passed away on the following day at 3-40 p.m. He was
unconscious all the time he was here. I laid his body to rest today in the
cemetery for the British some few miles behind the lines. He was a magnificent
type of guard, and I am sure his loss will be greatly felt by all….
William
Clark from Shakespeare Cottage in Poot Lane, the eldest son of Ham Green farmer
Henry Clark, attended Holywell School as a boy and performed as a talented
sportsman playing for the village football and cricket clubs. He also served as
a member of the church choir and as a church sidesman. After working on the
family farm William enlisted in the Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles on May 4th
1915. He went to France where he was attached to The Buffs and placed in the
machine gun section where he excelled when involved in heavy fighting and soon gained
promoted to lance-corporal. When returning home on leave in July 1916 he
married his girlfriend Ellen Banfield and they later had a baby daughter. He
returned to trench warfare on the Western Front where he was killed by an
exploding shell on June 15th 1917 aged 22. His regimental commanding
officer wrote to his wife:
Just a few lines to sympathise with you in the great loss of
your husband, lance corporal W. Clarke who was killed whilst on duty on June 15th.
He was greatly admired by officers, NCOs and men of his company for his bravery
and throughout any operations he shared great fearlessness and coolness,
putting the greatest confidence in those who were near him. His loss is keenly
felt by all ranks…
Percy
Hales and William Clark along with other Upchurch men who lost their
lives in the Great War of 1914-1918 have their names inscribed on a marble
memorial tablet located in the village church.
 |
Memories of Upchurch. |
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
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