Description
1914 Star with original clasp “5th Aug – 22nd Nov 1914”, British War & Victory Medal, Able Seaman Leopold Clark, Collingwood Bn, Royal Naval Division, RNVR, who landed early into the war serving at Antwerp before being interned at Groningen.
1914 Star officially impressed: “L.4/2530. L. Clark, A.B. R.N.V.R. Collingwood Bttn. R.N.D.”
WW1 Pair officially impressed: “L.4-2530 L. Clark. A.B. R.N.V.R.”
The illustrated photograph of him was taken by the Dutch Authorities whilst interned in Holland, and recently uncovered and digitised Rotterdam City Archives part of the Archives of Rotterdam Municipal Police.
Leopold Clark was born on 10th Nov 1887 in Rotherhithe, London.
The son of Frederic and Emma Clark.
Before the war, he had enlisted in the London Division of the RNVR, whilst he worked as a Clerk with the General Post Office, where his father was a long time Sorter, most of the brothers all worked as Clerks in London.
He enlisted on 28th September 1911, and had seen some service on HMS Natal in 1913 and HMS Hindustan in mid 1914.
He was amongst those who were called up for service on the outbreak of the war on 3rd August 1914, joining the 4th “Collingwood” Battalion of the Royal Naval Division, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
Being deployed early into the war to Antwerp, he was amongst the rag tag group of Royal Marines and Sailors who were deployed to Antwerp, to defend the important Port from the Germans, following the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force who were on the back foot since arriving in August of 1914.
Winston Churchill went over to Antwerp himself to take command of the men, riding round in his open top Rolls Royce encouraging them as the Germans closed in.
A good article on the Churchill’s antics and his Naval Division at Antwerp can be read below:
https://winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/world-crisis3-antwerp/
His papers write, “8th October 1914, 4th Battalion (Collingwood), Interned in Holland.”
The siege was not going well, and the men were all given the order to withdraw from their positions were forced into a difficult position, instead of being taken by the Germans as Prisoner of War, the about 1,600 men from the Collingwood, Benbow and Hawke Battalions of the 1st Brigade were forced to flee over the border into Holland, a Neutral Country.
Once crossing the border the men were “Interned” under International Law from 9th October 1914 and houses in barracks in Groningen.
The men were stuck there apart from some brief leave being allowed, as long as they promised to come back afterwards.
He was allowed leave ending in October 1916 and November 1917.
Some information on the R.N.D. interned at Groningen:
https://www.royalnavaldivision.info/groningen.htm
Leopold actually made the most of his short leave home, getting married to his wife Dorothy Mabel Millie Clark at St Matthews in Upper Clapton on 31st October 1917, shortly before he was due to return to Holland, his leave expiring on 17th November 1917.
Having spent most of the war interned in Holland, he was finally repatriated and allowed to return home freely once the war ended.
His service throughout his time in Holland was noted down as “Very Good”, being discharged after the war was fully over on 12th May 1919.
Leopold returned to work as a Civil Servant 3rd Class with the London Telephone Service General Post Office and had a son born in 1920.
He enjoyed a long life and later died during September 1968 in Southend on Sea, Essex.
The Hertfordshire Express, 5th July 1919 recalls the retirement of his respected Father, recalling the recent war service of Leopold and his 3 brothers, who all served.
“Mr Clark has had a family of 7 sons, 5 of whom are living, and 2 daughters.
4 Sons voluntarily joined the Army, and served with distinction in the war.
The Eldest, Mr Frederic Peverill Clark, is a clerk at Somerset House. The Second, Mr Harold William Clark, was a Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Engineers, being mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Mons Star and Meritorious Service Medal.
The 3rd, Mr Leopold Clark, is also the holder of the Mons star, being with the Royal Naval Brigade at Antwerp, and later interned at Groningen.
Lt Sydney Clark, 5th Royal Munster Fusiliers, also possesses the Mons Star. He was gassed and wounded by gunshot during his service in France. The remaining surviving son, Mr Ernest J.A. Clark, in the Civil Service, became a Sergeant in the King’s Royal Rifles, having joined up with the 15th London Regiment. He served in British East Africa, and in France.
Mr Clark is the proud recipient of a letter of congratulation from the King on the fact that his four sons voluntarily joined the Army.”
