Henry Cecil Courtney (Clarke) Courtney Clarke D.S.O. R.N (1890 - 1968)

Born 3 May 1890 in Wheaton Aston, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Euphane Lilian Constance (Watson) Courtney Clarke — married 6 Oct 1925 in St. Andrew's, Plymouth, Devon, England

Died 7 Mar 1968 at age 77 in Roxburghshire, Scotland, United Kingdom [uncertain]

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Biography

Henry Cecil Courtney Clarke was born 3 May 1890, his birth being registered at Cannock, Staffordshire in the 2nd quarter of that year^[1]. He was the third son of Reverend the Hon. John Henry Courtney Clarke and Arabella Charles Walsh.

He was Christened on 31 May 1890 at Lapley, Stafford, England^[2].

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census:
Vicarage, Tong, Shifnal, Shropshire, England:

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census:
St Editha's Vicarage, Cole Hill, Tamworth, Staffordshire, England:

The following notice was printed on page 5 of the Tamworth Herald dated 17 December 1904:

We are pleased to notice in the list just published of the "Brittannia" Cadetships that the name of Master Henry Cecil Courtney Clarke, son of the Rev. J. H. Courtney Clarke, vicar of Tamworth, is placed 30th.— Master Clarke was for three years a scholar at the Tamworth Grammar School, and has been studying at the Stubbington Naval School.^[3]

Henry entered the Royal Navy on 15 January 1905. He served in the 1st World War and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in recognition of his services in command of H.M.S. Calypso in action after the Captain had been mortally wounded^[4]

He was Mentioned in despatches for Action in the 2nd Battle of Heligoland Bight on the 11th November, 1917^[5].

The engagement was announced between Henry and Euphane Lilian Constance Scott Watson in the Hawick Express dated July 3, 1925, page 2. They were subsequently married on 6 October 1925 at St Andrews, Plymouth, Devon, England^[6]. Henry was aged 35, Euphane was about 30. Their wedding was attended by over 1,000 guests and friends, the officiating Clergymen were the Rev. H. G. Rorison, R.N., Chaplain of the Royal Naval Barracks, Devonport and the Rev. T. Whitfield Daukes, Vicar of St Andrews. Henry's best man was Lieutenant D. Orr-Ewing, R.N.

His father John Henry Courtney Clark died on 29 November 1925.

Henry and his wife Euphane had one son born in 1926. Another son was born in 1928.

In 1933 he was appointed Superintendent of Water bailiffs at St. Boswells, a large village on the south side of the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders.

His wife Euphane died 3 May 1963 at the age of about 68.

Henry was resident at Clairinsh, Melrose, Scotland when he died on 7 March 1968 at the age of about 78. His Will was proved on 10 May 1968 at Carlisle. Effects: £44,110

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2XYR-8KW : 1 October 2014), Henry Cecil C Clarke, 1890; from "England & Wales Births, 1837-2006,"
2. ↑ "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QL3L-X15T : 8 August 2017), Henry Cecil Courtney Clarke, 1890.
3. ↑ Tamworth Herald 17 December 1904, page 5 https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0000484%2f19041217%2f013&stringtohighlight=henry%20cecil%20courtney%20clarke (requires subscription)
4. ↑ The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Shipping and Seamen Rolls of Honour WWI and WWII; Class: BT 339; Piece: 6; Piece Description: Piece 6 (1916 - 1920). Description: BT 339:6 Mercantile Marine Officers; Nominal lists; copies of ´London Gazette´ (1916 - 1920) Ancestry.com
5. ↑ http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishLGDecorationszzMentions2.htm
6. ↑ "England, Devon, Parish Registers, 1538-1912," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC9G-7NR : 5 August 2017), Henry Cecil Courtney Clarke and Euphane Lilian Constance Scott Watson, 1925, Marriage; from "Church of England parish registers 1538-1911,"

• http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8123407

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Heligoland_Bight

See also:

• "England and Wales Census, 1891," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WSQ6-MW2 : 1 April 2016), Henry Cecil Courtney Clarke in household of John Henry Courtney Clarke, Tong, Shropshire, England; from "1891 England, Scotland and Wales census,"

• "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XS7Y-GQS : 8 April 2016), Henry C C Clarke in household of John H C Clarke, Tamworth, Staffordshire, England; from "1901 England, Scotland and Wales census,"