John CLARK

28 September 1917

SILSDEN - SEAMAN JOHN CLARK REPORTED DROWNED

Ordinary Seaman John Clark, son of Mrs. Clark, 4 Chapel Street, Silsden, is reported missing and believed to be drowned. Mrs. Liversedge, of 38, Landguard Road, Portsmouth, in a letter to Mrs. Clark, states:- "I hope you will excuse me writing to you, but I think you ought to know that the ship your boy went out on has gone under, but some of the men are saved. I am sorry to say that John is not one of them, but it is stated that some got away on a raft so they must have been picked up and taken to another port. They are, however, in God's' hands, and He knows best. If we hear anything further, we will let you know at once. I feel very deeply for you, as John was always so willing and pleasant. The ship went down early on Monday morning, September 17th, so we are afraid of the worst now. Bear up as well as you can and rest assured that your boy nobly did his duty. I know what a terrible anxiety it must be for you as I am proud to say that I am both a sailor's wife and mother."

Writing from Portsmouth, his wife also states that her husband is missing. She had not received information from the War Office, but from one of the survivors who had arrived at the Portsmouth Barracks.

Ordinary Seaman Clark, who was 26 years of age, joined the Navy in February last. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Smith and Pickles, painters and decorators, Kirkgate, Silsden, and prior to enlisting was employed by Mr. Charlie Carter, painter and decorator, of Ilkley. He formerly attended the Silsden Primitive Methodist Church and Sunday School.

05 October 1917

SILSDEN - IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN

A service was held at the Silsden Primitive Methodist Church an Sunday morning last in memory of Lance- Corporal A. E. Broadhead, of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Broadhead, 9, Daisy Hill, Silsden, who has been killed in action. The officiating minister was the Rev. Wm. Dickinson (pastor). The reverend gentleman said that Lance-Corporal Broadhead had been reported as missing for the past twelve months, but the War Office had now sent intelligence that they could not hold any hope of his safety and his life. They sympathised with the parents and relatives who were with them that morning in their long waiting suspense and anxiety, and now the apparent loss, and prayed that they would be comforted by that grace which was divine, and sustained by that great and precious promise of God's word. Surely, the association of the Sunday School and Church, and of the home, must have gone with him and influenced him to have been good and to do good, and to do his bit for King and Country and the home and loved ones. They were also all sorry to hear that Seaman John Clark was reported missing, and yet they were not without hope for his safety. When they assembled for service of that character he hoped they would remind themselves that not one of them could fully appreciate the heroism of those brave men on land and sea. To fully appreciate the heroism, they would have to be there and see, understand, and pass through what our soldiers and sailors had to pass through. But willingly they paid the supreme sacrifice for us in order to preserve the home, loved ones and country. His prayer was that they might prove themselves worthy of all the brave heroism and the noble and sacrificial work and life of those brave men on land and sea. There were many who had found a sailor's grave, and there were many who would have no mark to show the place where they rest, but yet they were safe in God's keeping. - At the close the organist played the Dead March.

05 October 1917

SILSDEN - THE LATE SEAMAN JOHN CLARK

We give a photograph of Ordinary Seaman John Clark, son of Mr. Clark, 4 Chapel Street, Silsden, who, as reported in our issue of last week, was reported drowned by the sinking of his ship on September 17th last. He was 26 years of age.