During the course of the last year, Mari Godfrey has been researching the history of Clarence Elliot, a young soldier from Kiveton Park who died during the First World War.
The following are some of the fascinating discoveries that Mari has made and reveal the tragic circumstances in which his family found out about Clarence’s death.
Derbyshire Courier, 19 June 1915
Many Derbyshire Casualties
This week’s list of officers and men killed wounded and missing amongst Derbyshire’s Soldiers is one of the heaviest yet received. It is as follows:
Killed
Reported Killed
In this week’s official casualty lists, the following appear amongst the killed: -
5th Sherwood Foresters: Privates W. Hurt, J. T. Rigby, G. H. R. Hyde, F. Summers, R. Truelove.
6th Sherwood Foresters: F. Bradley, A. Ponsonby
‘Killamarsh Soldiers Fate’
In the absence of official information, the relatives of Private Clarence Elliot of Sheffield Road Killamarsh, who enlisted in the 1st Sherwood Foresters at the first recruiting meeting held at Killamarsh in August last year (1914). Relatives are anxious to know his fate in view of information that has come to their knowledge from other sources, that he has been killed, that he has been wounded only. Parcels and letters that have been sent out to him by his friends at Killamarsh have been returned, one letter being marked wounded in pencil, and the official stamp indicating an absence of information as to exact whereabouts.
In response to a letter asking for any information concerning Private Elliot, Private W. Howe, who had previously written to the family when Clarence was in hospital with fever, by a postcard, says, ‘After enquiring all over the Battalion I have found out that Clarence was wounded in action on May 9th and I expect he will be in England by now. A Corporal in his company told me he saw him injured in the shoulder and legs.
Private Elliot was well known in Killamarsh as a promising footballer and worked at Kiveton Park Colliery. He would have attained his majority on October 14th this year. Any intelligence relating to Private Elliot will be appreciated by his widowed mother who resides at Killamarsh. From a further letter that has been received by Mrs. A. Storey of High Street, Killamarsh, a married sister of Private Clarence Elliot, circumstances seem to indicate that he has lost his life. The letter written by Lance Corporal Tollerton of the 1st Sherwood Foresters is as follows: ‘ I am very sorry to have to inform you that your brother Private C. Elliot went into action with me on May 9th and was unfortunate to meet his death. If it is any consolation to you to know, I may say that he died like a soldier who was doing his duty. He was well respected by all who knew him. The writer concludes with an expression of sympathy.