Soldier Record

Christie Clarke was an only son who joined the Officers' Training Corps of Queen's University Belfast in February l915. He received his commission on l9 April that year as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Batt. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.

He died when my father was only eight months old.

On 28 May l9l6 he sustained several wounds in the head, losing an eye, and also had his right leg fractured, all these injuries being caused by the bursting of a 5.9 high explosive shell in the trench in which he was directing the operations of the men under him. He spent a long time in hospital in England before travelling home to Ireland when it was believed that he had fully recovered. Unfortunately there was still shrapnel lodged in his head and he suffered from intermittent headaches. In early December l9l8 these became severe. A surgeon from Belfast was consulted but there was nothing which could be done apart from some attempts at pain relief. Christie Clarke died in his home in Monaghan on 28 December l9l8.