ALBERT CLARKE

Private Albert Clarke was the first of two brothers from this large family to die fighting in this war. Albert's father George leased land from the Anglican Church in the area north of the Styx River called Millbrook near the modern subdivision of Northwood. Born in 1890, he joined the Army on 26 February 1917 and married Elizabeth O'Farrell on 25 May 1917. He arrived in France on 26 October 1917 and was posted to the 1st Canterbury Battalion. Albert Clarke was killed in action on 3 December 1917 at the bloody battle at Polderhoek Chateau. Like George Chaney, Albert Clarke is commemorated at the New Zealand Memorial at Buttes New British Cemetery at Polygon Wood. His brother George was to be killed six months later on the Somme.

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