Description
Family Group of QSA, KIA Boer War and BWM & Army LSGC, both in the Gordon Highlanders.
Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen, 4009 Pte Hugh Clark, 1st Bn Gordon Highlanders, Attached Mounted Infantry, Died of Wounds 31st Jan 1901.
“DIED OF WOUNDS AT CLANWILLIAM
4009 Private H. Clark, enlisted on 6th October 1891 at Aberdeen. A native of Banchory. His mother resides at Holybank, Mount Street, Banchory. Clark was a prominent athlete, and distinguished himself greatly in regimental sports.”
Dundee Evening Telegraph, 6th February 1901 recalls his death, during the fighting his officer Lieutenant Graham V.W. Clowes was killed on the day.
Officially impressed: “4009 Pte H. Clark. Gordon Highrs:”
Crisp unworn condition.
Unusual combination of clasps to the unit, due to his attachment to the Mounted Infantry, very few men on the medal roll are noted down for the Relief of Kimberley clasp in particular.
Whilst on service he died of wounds received in action on 31st January 1901, near Clanwilliam.
He is now commemorated at Edinburgh Castle on their memorial tablet for the Gordon Highlanders.
It was recalled that a Doorn River on 30th January, Lieutenant Graham Vinicombe Winchester Clowes, of the Gordon Highlanders Mounted Infantry was killed, and Private Clark was severely wounded, but succumbed to his wounds by the next day.
The Bristol Times, 9th February 1901 published the following article mentioning Clark:
“IN PURSUIT OF THE RAIDERS
Colonel De Lisle’s Camp Elandsvlei, Doorn River, February 3.
The doings of Colonel De Lisle’s column since it left Clanwilliam have been full of interest. The Boers, whose present base in Calvinia had sent patrols across the Upper Doorn River bridge, and as far south as Packhuis Pass, which is held in force by the Western Province Horse.
Colonel De Lisle left Clanwilliam on the afternoon of the 29th January, and arrived the same evening at Packhuis.
Next morning he crossed the picturesque pass and descended on the other side, camping near Elizabethfontein.
The Boers took up a position on a rocky knoll about 6 miles to the north, and the same afternoon a small British Patrol, consisting of Captain Gordon, Lieutenant Clowes, and 2 Men (one being Clark), all belonging to the Gordon Highlanders, went forward with instruction to discover whether certain rocky ravines some distance in front of the Boer position were practicable for horses. They unfortunately pushed too far. The Boers held their fire till the patrol was quite close, and then poured in a volley.
Captain Gordon was wounded in the foot, Lieutenant Clowes was killed, and one man, CLARKE, was severely wounded. The last mentioned has since died.”
Hugh Clarke, was born in Banchory, Kincardineshire.
He had first enlisted into the Gordons on 6th October 1891, he had worked as a Groom, which would line up with his later Mounted Infantry service in the Boer War.
As noted in his obituary he was a “Prominent Athlete” who had “distinguished himself greatly in regimental sports”, likely the reason why he had been chosen as one of only 2 men to go out on patrol with Captain Gordon and Lieut Clowes.
POSSIBLE BROTHER
British War Medal, Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, GV, 7364 Sergeant Master Tailor Charles Clark, Gordon Highlanders.
BWM Officially impressed: “7364 Sjt C. Clark. Gord. Highrs.”
Army LSGC officially impressed: “7364 Sjt: Mr: Tlr: C. Clark. Gord: Highrs.”
The pair on frayed silk ribbons as worn on mounting bar.
During World War 1, Sergeant Clark earned only the British War Medal for his war service, the rolls noting that he served with 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
Probably served at home in his NCO role especially being Sergeant Master Tailor later on in the war.
In Army Order 305 of 1918, he earned this Long Service & Good Conduct Medal as Sergeant Master Tailor to the Gordon Highlanders.
