John (“Jack”) Clarke was born in Windsor, Ontario on July 17, 1920, the eldest son of Cecil Charles Clarke (born March 31, 1898) and Edith Phyllis (nee Ewener) Clarke, of 121 South Forsythe Street, and later 306 George Street, Sarnia. Both his parents were born in England–Cecil in Rotherham, Yorkshire, and Edith in Southwark, Middlesex. Edith’s father fought in World War I, and her brother fought in World War II. John had three younger siblings: Reginald C. (born 1921), Cecil William (born 1926) and one sister, Marguerite Phyllis (born 1923). John Clarke was educated in Sarnia schools and at Sarnia Collegiate. He would be a member of the reserves in Sarnia and, when war broke out, he and his brother volunteered for service.
John’s father, Cecil Charles Clarke, served overseas from 1916 to 1919 in World War I with the Fourth Canadian Mounted Rifles. When his two sons, John and Reginald, decided to join the active service forces in WWII, father Cecil Charles decided to go along just to look after them if they got into a tight spot. So father Cecil Charles would enlist again in World War II, becoming a Sapper with the 11th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers, the same unit as his two sons John and Reginald. John and Reginald would get their stripes first and took keen delight in issuing instructions to “the old man.” As it turned out, however, Sergeant Cecil Charles Clarke proved he could take it as well as his sons and it wasn’t long before he was sporting three stripes and remarking, “I told you so, boys.” Oldest son John and middle son Reginald, would both serve in the Canadian Army and, like their father, would become members of the Royal Canadian Engineers. The youngest son, Cecil William, would join the army, becoming a member of the 30th Reconnaissance Battalion, in London, Ontario with the rank of Trooper. The only Clarke daughter, Marguerite, would become a member of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. The family was nicknamed, “The Fighting Clarkes” (of the army).
Another Clarke family in Sarnia was also known as the, “The Fighting Clarkes” (of the navy). Lieutenant Roy Clarke and his wife, Mrs. Clarke of Lakeshore Road, had four sons who would all serve in the Royal Canadian Navy. A fifth son was a decker on the Harmonic, too young to enlist in the R.C.N. Members of the “Fighting Clarkes” of the navy included father Lieutenant Roy Clarke, who had been in the Navy prior to going into the Army; sons and Petty Officers (Gunner’s Mates) Douglas and David Tait; Petty Officers Gordon Stewart and Thomas; and the youngest son, Bruce, who planned to join the navy as soon as he was of age.
At his enlistment, John Charles Clarke, of the “Fighting Clarkes” (of the army) recorded his occupation as a concrete work and a carpenter. John enlisted in the Canadian Army, becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Engineers, like his father and his brother, John, and attaining the rank of sergeant. He was stationed at Seaford, Sussex, England. John Charles Clarke, of the “Fighting Clarkes” of the army would marry Lucy Clarke in England in the spring of 1942. They would later reside at East Wellington Street, Sarnia. John and his new wife Lucy would have a baby daughter together.
August 19, 1942, was one of the darkest days in Canadian military history. On that day, 4,963 Canadian soldiers landed on the beaches of Dieppe, a small town on the coast of France. Called Operation Jubilee, the plan had soldiers arriving early in the morning under the cover of darkness; however, they were delayed and had inadequate supporting fire. The Canadians waded ashore, trying to cross the cobblestone beaches but were fully visible to the well-entrenched Germans who were waiting for them sitting atop the 75-foot high cliffs. By mid-morning, it was clear that the raid could not continue, and the retreat began. The Operation was a disaster and, of the 4,963 Canadians who landed, 907 were killed, 2,460 were wounded and 1,946 were captured.
A number of Sarnia and Lambton men took part in the Dieppe Raid, including three members of the Clarke family who were also members of the Royal Canadian Engineers: father Cecil Clarke, a sergeant and veteran of the Great War; Lance-Sergeant John Clarke and Corporal Reginald Clarke. As he vowed when he enlisted, father Cecil Charles “looked after them if they got into a tight spot,” which Dieppe certainly was. Miraculously, all three Clarkes would not only survive the disaster, but would escape unharmed. Edith Clarke in Sarnia received a cable a week later from her husband Cecil, which informed her that he and their two sons all took part in the raid and were now all safe and well in England. She would also receive news that her brother, Lieutenant William A. Ewener of the Royal Canadian Engineers, who also take part in the Dieppe Raid, was seriously wounded, but would survive.
A little over a year after surviving the Dieppe Raid, John Clarke would lose his life. Edith Clarke then residing at 208 Harkness Street, Sarnia, would receive a telegram from the director of records at Ottawa, informing her that her son, John Charles Clarke, serving overseas as an instructor with a demolition unit, died of burns received in an accidental blast while on duty on November 23, 1943. No information as to whether the accident occurred in England or with the Canadian troops in Italy was provided. The message said that further information would be transmitted later. Edith Clarke had received a letter from her son John only two weeks prior.
John Clarke would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, misadventure, due to blast and burns, multiple injuries and fracture of the skull (England). John left behind his parents, his brothers and sister, his wife of less than two years, Lucy, and their baby daughter. In mid-February 1944, a group of 94 area soldiers arrived from overseas duty at the London, Ontario train station into the arms of happy, laughing friends and relatives. According to the London media report, one of the happiest family groups at the station were the “Fighting Clarkes” of Sarnia. Sgt.-Major Charles Clarke, who had been overseas for almost four years, was greeted by his wife Edith and their daughter Cpl. Marguerite Guthrie of No. 6 Company, C.W.A.C.. His sons, Lt-Cpl. Cecil Clarke and Sgt. Reginald Clarke, were in the army both overseas. His twenty-three year old son John Charles Clarke is buried overseas in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom, Grave 47.H.2.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, G, J, L, N, 2C, 2D