By John D Ellis
Samuel Adolphus Clarke was born at Trelawney, on the Island of Jamaica on the 10th of September 1874. A cook by occupation, he enlisted in the Royal Navy in September 1899 and served until 1903. On enlistment he was 5 feet 10” tall and described as “a man of colour”. It was also noted that he had black hair, dark brown eyes and a “coloured” complexion.
After 1903, nothing is known of his whereabouts until he enlisted in the merchant navy in early 1915, and then re-enlisted in the Royal Navy in June 1915. Thereafter, he was to serve until discharged on a pension in September 1922.
Initially employed as a ‘Domestic’ (a servant), then as a Steward, after his re-enlistment in the 1915 he served as an Officer’s Cook.
Samuel Clarke served in no less than 25 Royal Navy vessels and shore bases during his career. During the First World War he served at HMS Pembroke (a shore base at Chatham), and on HMS Swiftsure, HMS Cormorant, HMS Cyclops, HMS Calypso, HMS Mona’s Isle (an anti-submarine net-laying vessel).
After being discharged on a pension in 1922, his fate remains unknown.[1]TNA ADM 188/542/357730. Lives Of The First World War, 1914-1918, findmypast.co.uk
References
| ↑1 | TNA ADM 188/542/357730. Lives Of The First World War, 1914-1918, findmypast.co.uk |
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