Edward Clarke was flying as second pilot when Wellington R3154 came down on the North Yorkshire Moors, he was sadly killed in the crash and was twenty two years old. In November 2011 I was contacted by his nephew Mr Michael Clarke who was kindly able to provide further information about his life. Edward Clarke was probably born in India because it is known that his siblings were born there, however the family had returned to England well before 1940 as at the time of his death his father was living in Southsea. Edward married Constance Bird, who was from Easton on the Hill near Stamford in June 1939 and she was pregnant at the time Edward was killed in this flying accident on the North Yorkshire Moors. She would give birth to a baby boy, then also named Edward Joseph Taylor Clarke on 31st December 1940. Through this correspondance it transpires that F/O Clarke's mother had died some years before his death which probably explains why he was buried local to his wife in Stamford Cemetery.
Edward Clarke received a short service commission in the RAF and was granted the rank of Acting P/O on probation with effect from and seniority of 25th January 1937. He was confirmed in the rank of P/O on an unknown date and rose to F/O on 16th July 1939.
The CWGC register gives no family details for him, however his name is on the War Memorial at Easton on the Hill where his wife was from, and his name is also commemerated on the War memorial in Easton Church. The photographs below show the village war memorial and the plaque in the village church.
Edward Clarke's grave in Stamford Cemetery.
The War Memorial in Easton on the Hill and the plaque in the church shown below.
As a footnote to this webpage, Mr Michael Clarke has been trying to trace his cousin Mr Edward Joseph Taylor Clarke for some years without success. Searching the marriage index for England would suggest that he married in the Leicester area in 1963 but nothing more is known about him. I would be happy to forward an email address to Mr Clarke if he reads this.