Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.119 | |
| 2. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 22B GQS | |
| 3. Memorial: | Liverpool Masonic Hall War Memorial | Col.1. Hope St. | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
The majority of this legend is courtesy of Geoff Cuthill of the Province of West Lancashire, to whom the project is grateful.John was born in 1888 and baptised on 13 May 1888 at St. Lukes Church, Liverpool, his family living nearby at 32 Roscoe Street. He was named after his father, also John, who was a Ships Smith and his mother Elizabeth, whose maiden name was Darlington, and at the time of his birth John had two elder siblings, Elizabeth Jane and Donald. The census of 1891 for 32 Roscoe Street shows the head of the household as Jane Darlington, widow, John and his family, Jane’s brother in law George Darlington, and a married couple, John and Mary Grahame who are boarding there. The next census of 1901 sees john and Elizabeth with their three children at 9 Alfred Street, Mount Pleasant, with a boarder, 31 year old Liverpool born Mary Williams who is living on own means, and John Kay age18, a Carter, from Birkenhead.
John has not been found on the 1911 census, in all probability being at sea. His parents are at 7 Tagus Street off Lodge Lane in Toxteth park, and his brother Donald, a Ships Steward, is staying with his sister Elizabeth and her husband Alexander McColl, also a Ships Steward, at 30 Woodcroft Road Wavertree.
On 15th September, 1917 John marries at St. Bridget’s (CofE) Parish Church, Wavertree, Violet Camilla Elizabeth Wallace, a 26 year old Music Teacher, the daughter of Robert Noble Wallace, a Corporation Tramways Inspector. Both John and Violet give their address as 67 Woodcroft Street, with John giving his occupation as Ships Steward, his father being John Clarke, a Ships Smith, with the wedding is witnessed by R.M. Shipton and Olga D Wallace.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: SS Basil |
S.S. Basil was built by Workman, Clark & Co. Ltd., in 1895. Dimensions: 338' x 43' 6" x 28' 9". Gross Tonnage: 3223. |
| Action : Naval Accident |
During the war there were a number of Naval Accidents which we have isolated because of their shocking caualties and the corresponding impact on members of the craft. There were a number of vessels destroyed in port by explosions which we would today categorise as 'Health & Safety' failures.
Detail :
Tragically John died just seven weeks into his marriage while serving as Chief Steward aboard the “S.S. Basil” on 11 November, 1917. Built at Belfast in 1895, and of 3,223 tons, by Workman Clark & Co., as the “Mourne,” she was sold to the Booth Steam Ship Company, (Booth Lines) in 1898 and renamed as the “Basil.” Requisitioned by the Government after the outbreak of war, she was armed with a 4.7 inch gun and used to transport supplies across to France, every journey being hazardous due to the constant threat of German submarines. It was on one of these trips, under the command of Captain Edward Whitehouse, when carrying a cargo of ammunition from Southampton to Boulogne, totally blacked out, and plying a zigzag course, that the “Basil” was lost, around fourteen nautical miles off the coast of Littlehampton. The French vessel “Margaux”, travelling west through the English Channel, and also blacked out, ran straight into the “Basil”, ripping a large gash along the British ship below the waterline. Within minutes the “Basil” was sinking, with thirteen of the crew either killed or drowned, including John, and the Chief Engineer, Gilbert Edmund Clark of 1675 Antient Briton Lodge. The “Margaux” survived the collision, and although severely damaged, she managed to make her way into Southampton harbour.
"ON the night of November 11th and 12th, 1917, the s.s. "BASIL" was on her way from Southampton to Boulogne loaded with ammunition. She was unescorted and was steaming without lights. She was run into by the French steamer "Margaux," and foundered before the boats could be got away, many lives being lost."
John’s body was recovered and taken to Liverpool where he was laid to rest on 17 November 1917 in Smithdown Road cemetery, Toxteth, in grave C13. 785. In the summer of 1918 his wife gave birth to Laurence John Darlington Clarke in Liverpool. The Liverpool Echo of 15 November has two entries in the obituary column regarding John. CLARKE-November 11, suddenly at Southampton, aged 30 years, John darlington, the dearly-beloved husband of violet Camilla Clarke, of 82 Gladeville-road, Aigburth, (Member of the Toxteth Masonic Lodge, 1356, and for many years with the Booth Steamship Company.) Funeral cortege will leave his parents residence, 67, Woodcroft-road, on Saturday, at 12.15 p.m., for interment at Smithdown-road Cemetery, at 2.30 p.m. (Will Masonic and all other friends kindly accept this- the only intimation. This was followed by; CLARKE-November 11, drowned on H.M.S. ——-, John Darlington, the dearly beloved son of John and Elizabeth Clarke and devoted brother of Lily and Alex. McColl. (“His duty nobly done.”) Deeply mourned by all at 67, Woodcroft-road.
Probate: CLARKE John Darlington of 67 Woodcroft-road Liverpool chief steward died 11 November 1917 at sea Administration Liverpool 5 December to Violet Camilla Elizabeth Clarke widow. Effects £364 10s. 3d.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Toxteth No. 1356 E.C. | West Lancashire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
11th March 1914 | 8th April 1914 | 15th April 1915 |
John was initiated into Toxteth Lodge No. 1356 on the 18th March 1914, aged 26 years, described as a “Steward”, residing at 69 Woodcroft Road, (off Smithdown Road) Liverpool, although United Grand Lodge records have initiation on 11th March. He was passed to the second degree on 8 April 1914, and raised to the degree of master mason on 14th April, 1915, with his Grand Lodge certificate issued on 18th September, 1915.
The records of United Grand Lodge for the Toxteth Lodge show "Drowned on Active Service Nov 17"
John is commemorated on the Liverpool Masonic Hall Memorial, Roll of Honour Book, United Grand Lodge, 1921. John is shown on the Great Queen Street Roll of Honour as a steward in the Royal Navy
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley