16033 Pte Jack Clark, 11th Bn East Lancashire Regiment.
From Burnley, Lancs, Jack , who resided at Grosvenor Street in the town, was an ‘original' in the Burnley (‘Z') Company of the Accrington Pals. A colliery worker at the Bee-Hole Pit in Burnley, he enlisted at Howe Street in September 1914, and he saw service in Egypt before arriving in France in March 1916. On the night of 29/30 April 1916, Jack became the first of the ‘Pals' to be killed in action when, during a German bombardment of their positions near Colincamps, five men were buried by one shell. Jack was killed instantly and the other four injured (the other men being Ptes. John Murphy, Jim O'Mara* and the two Kendall brothers). Jack was 20 years of age and is now buried in Sucrerie Military cemetery, Colincamps.
30 April 1916
*Great-uncle of our ROTD author, David O'Mara - Ed
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
