Description
China 1900, Third China War Medal, 2 bars, Taku Forts, Relief of Pekin, Stoker G. A. Clarke, HMS Alacrity.
Officially impressed: “G. A. Clarke, Sto. H.M.S. Alacrity”
Confirmed on the medal roll, this medal recorded as issued to him at Victory on 8th May 1902.
Excellent condition, likely seeing little wear as he died during service in 1908.
HMS Alacrity received 138 medals in total for service in the China War, of which 42 included the Taku Forts and Relief of Pekin clasps.
An analysis of the entire medal roll notes that the combined awards of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RIMS etc totalled 11,082 medals.
Out of these only 299 medals were issued with 2 bars, the only combination being this example of Taku Forts and Relief of Pekin, 42 being earned by the Alacrity.
George Albert Clarke or Clark was born on 8th July 1876 at Haggerston in Hackney, London.
He worked as a Plumber before joining the Royal Navy on 22nd January 1896 at Victory II entering as a Stoker 2nd Class.
He was swiftly posted to his very first ships posting after 2 months on the Centurion he joined HMS Alacrity for the next 3 years from 20th April 1897 until 6th September 1900.
During this time he was advanced to Stoker on 21st July 1897.
Having quite the baptism of fire, the young man was sent to China to take in the Third Anglo-China War, aka the Boxer Rebellion.
During that time he got to leave the confines of the Engine Room as a Stoker to serve on land with the Naval Brigade, being one of barely 300 recipients of the double clasped medal for his service at the Capture of Taku aka Dagu Forts and taking part in the famous Expedition to Relieve the International Legations under siege at Peking.
After the war was over he joined HMS Undaunted from 7th Sept 1900 – 25th April 1901, whilst still on the China station, before returning back to the Victory from 5th Nov 1901 – 20th Feb 1902 during which time he was issued this medal.
He later began to rise up the ranks after joining HMS Forth on 1st July 1905, when he was promoted to Acting Leading Stoker 2nd Class on 1st Pril 1906, followed by Acting Stoker Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st July 1906.
He then joined HMS Mercury from 23rd March 1907, being promoted to Stoker Petty Officer 2nd Class on 1st April 1907, followed by Acting Stoker Petty Officer, 1st September 1907.
He had just joined HMS Bonaventure as Acting Stoker Petty Officer on 22nd February 1908, and recently as 22nd January 1908 finished out his 12 year service contract but chose to “re-up” and extend on to finish 21 years.
However not long afterwards he was Discharged Dead on 1st May 1908 “At Torbay Hospital from Double Pneumonia.”
He is now buried in Clayhall Naval Cemetery at Gosport, his grave can be viewed here:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176675704/george-albert-clark
