Photograph of Francis Clark in uniform.
Frank Clark was 18 in 1914 and was working as a wagoner. He was born about 1896 and it is unknown whether he was a volunteer, or not. Little is known about his Army service other than the fact that he was in the East Yorkshire Regiment in Beverley, he went to war and he was exposed to gas attacks and explosions. He was hospitalised and sent back to the south of England. It was too far for the family to visit from Pickering, so they appealed for him to be brought up to Manchester, so that he was nearer home. He was sent to Manchester and his skin erupted in boils, which was probably a result of the gas. After he was released from hospital, he was sent home and the doctor told him to put blankets in red hot water, as hot as he could bear, and wrap them around himself. Also, to keep repeating this, in order to remove the pus. Frank had been in farming before the war, a wagoner, and was therefore sent to a farm to supervise, and give them a bit of a jolt, because they were not producing enough. He did this until he was well again and then went back to the front. But, because he was not fully recovered, he transferred from infantry to signalling and gunnery. He was stationed in France and the only place he mentioned was Happy Valley, but never said any more, although he talked about the gassing and so on to uncles. He left the Army a bitter man, and didn't get a pension. The contributor imagines that he signed up, maybe to get out of farming, but doesn't really know. Stories that he told people afterwards include one occasion where a shell exploded and he only had the butt of his rifle left, he was on his own and so started to retreat down the trench. An Officer challenged him with a pistol, but he explained the circumstances and this was accepted. He also talked about an Officer who wore glasses and was told not to put his head above the trench wall. But he did not heed the advice and was shot. He also talked about going into a wood on one occasion, and finding all the British soldiers just frozen in time, overcome with gas. He also said that there were a lot of superstitions and stories going around the trenches, such as visions and seeing angels. He was convinced there was truth in it. He was deaf when he came home, for which he blamed the gunnery.

Francis Clark
Photograph of Francis Clark in uniform
Photograph