Frank's Story.
Frank was born in 1892 son of George & Mary A Clark of Pool Lane, Statham, Lymm. In civilian life he worked as a gardener in Lymm. His father George was a well known nurseryman, a member of the Committee of Statham Ward of the Conservative Club and former head gardener to the late Mr Peter Stubbs of Statham Lodge Lymm.Frank enlisted with the Welsh Fusiliers in 1915 and died from shell wounds in France on 16th March 1916 aged 24.
A letter dated 15th March sent to Frank's father from the Sister in charge of the 21st Clearing Station read:
"Your son Private Clark, was admitted into this hospital today sufferering from shell wounds of the body I regret to say he is dangerously ill."
A day later on the 16th March the same nurse wrote:
"Your son gradually got worse, and I regret to say he passed away at 5.20 this morning. Eerything possible wad done for him."
The Rev. J M S Walker from the 21st casualty clearing station also wrote to Franks father on the 17th March saying:
"May I offer you my most heartfelt sympathy in the loss you have sustained by the death of your son? You may indeed by proud of him for he has died bravely for his country. He was not long with us, but during that short time he always welcomed me for a talk on the deeper things of life and prayer. I laid his body to rest yesterday in the quiet cemetery of the adjoining town. A wooden cross marks his grave which is alongside those of may more of our brave soldiers."
Researched and compiled by Lynn Smith