Lieutenant George Edward Clarke
George Edward Clarke was born on 10 December 1895 at Ratcliffe Street, Sligo, the first of five children of draper William Henry Clarke and his wife Louisa (nee Kernahan). By 1911 he was living with his parents and siblings at 18 Grattan Street, Sligo. Soon after, the family moved to 2 & 3 Ratcliffe Street and George began work as a draper's assistant.
Clarke enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Boyle, Roscommon, on 10 May 1915 and joined the regiment at Antrim the same day (No.1524). He embarked for France on 17 November 1915 with F Squadron.
On 23 August 1916 he applied for a commission in the Royal Field Artillery. He left France for the UK for officer cadet training on 25 November and after a short period of leave, on 28 December reported for duty at the Royal Artillery Cadet School, St John's Wood, London.
Sligo Independent, 2 December 1916
On 6 June 1917 Clarke was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant on the Royal Field Artillery (Special Reserve). He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 December 1918.
One document notes that on 12 January 1919 he joined the 3rd Divsion Artillery Column from the 38th Division, but "remains attached to Canadian Corps for duty as an Officer Interpreter".
In 1919 he served with the Army of Occupation in Germany.
Clarke was demobilised on 13 March 1920. He relinquished his commission on 1 April that year.