Sergeant Frank H Clark
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Regiment Royal Engineers
Rank Sergeant
Service Number 5566242
Company 7th Field Company
Platoon
Awards DCM
Date of Death 09/11/1944
Location of Memorial Medola War Cemetery I, E, 16
Next Of Kin
Sgt Frank Clark was employed at the Westinghouse Paint Shop at the breakout of hostilities in 1939, at which point he was recalled to the Colours having previously served for 6 years with the Royal Engineers. He was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940 before being sent to serve in North Africa and eventually Italy.
Whilst serving in Italy during 1944 he regularly volunteered for dangerous jobs despite being the HQ Sergeant, such as swimming the River Gari in order to measure the span prior to the building of a Bailey Bridge. During the building of the bridge he returned time and again in order to assist with the removal of the wounded and vehicles. During the building of the ‘Amazon’ Bailey bridge Sgt Clark again worked tirelessly under fire until the task was complete.On the 17th May whilst acting as a Platoon Sergeant during the construction of a forward track under fire, Sgt Clark along with a Corporal continued to operate a bulldozer despite the fact that two drivers had already been killed, between them they managed to complete a further 80 yards of track. The same morning the Platoon officer had been reported missing, Sgt Clark returned twice in his efforts to locate him, on both occasions under fire.For the actions described above Sgt Clark was awarded an immediate Distinguished Conduct Medal, the final sentence of the citation states that “He has inspired all ranks by his great courage and example.”
On the 6th July Sgt Clark was wounded for the second time, he had previously been wounded during the evacuation from Dunkirk.
On the 9th November 1944 the 7th Field Company were holding position around Forli airfield when the Company HQ was shelled by enemy artillery, the HQ was moved after a direct hit unfortunately the new position was then shelled and it was shrapnel from one of these shells that was to claim Sgt Clark’s life.
Place of Birth
Regiment Royal Engineers
Rank Sergeant
Service Number 5566242
Company 7th Field Company
Platoon
Awards DCM
Date of Death 09/11/1944
Location of Memorial Medola War Cemetery I, E, 16
Next Of Kin
Sgt Frank Clark was employed at the Westinghouse Paint Shop at the breakout of hostilities in 1939, at which point he was recalled to the Colours having previously served for 6 years with the Royal Engineers. He was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940 before being sent to serve in North Africa and eventually Italy.
Whilst serving in Italy during 1944 he regularly volunteered for dangerous jobs despite being the HQ Sergeant, such as swimming the River Gari in order to measure the span prior to the building of a Bailey Bridge. During the building of the bridge he returned time and again in order to assist with the removal of the wounded and vehicles. During the building of the ‘Amazon’ Bailey bridge Sgt Clark again worked tirelessly under fire until the task was complete.On the 17th May whilst acting as a Platoon Sergeant during the construction of a forward track under fire, Sgt Clark along with a Corporal continued to operate a bulldozer despite the fact that two drivers had already been killed, between them they managed to complete a further 80 yards of track. The same morning the Platoon officer had been reported missing, Sgt Clark returned twice in his efforts to locate him, on both occasions under fire.For the actions described above Sgt Clark was awarded an immediate Distinguished Conduct Medal, the final sentence of the citation states that “He has inspired all ranks by his great courage and example.”
On the 6th July Sgt Clark was wounded for the second time, he had previously been wounded during the evacuation from Dunkirk.
On the 9th November 1944 the 7th Field Company were holding position around Forli airfield when the Company HQ was shelled by enemy artillery, the HQ was moved after a direct hit unfortunately the new position was then shelled and it was shrapnel from one of these shells that was to claim Sgt Clark’s life.