Alfred James Clarke

Rank:	Corporal
Street:
Townland:	Wartime
Town/Village:	Saskatchewan, Canada
Civil Parish:	Ballinalee
Catholic Parish:	Ballinalee
Country:	Canada
Alternative Address:	Gurteenreevagh, Balinalee, Co. Longford; Newtownbarry [Bunclody], Wexford; Elrose, Saskatchewan
Census 1901:	Resident at Gurteenreevagh https://nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-census/census-record/#census_year=1901&surname__icontains=clarke&firstname__icontains=alfred&county=Longford&sex=M&limit=30&id=8347094
Census 1911:	Resident as a boarder at a house in Inns Quay, Dublin https://nationalarchives.ie/collections/search-the-census/census-record/#census_year=1911&surname__icontains=clarke&firstname__icontains=alfred&sex=M&limit=30&id=44578
Regiment/Unit:	196th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Regiment Number:	911026
Date of Death:	31-12-1974
Cause:	Natural Causes, Survived WW1
Memorial:	Elrose Cemetery, Elrose, Saskatchewan, Canada
Information:	Alfred was born in Ballinalee on or around 9 October 1889, although he gave 1890 as his year of birth on his attestment. Alfred's parents were teachers originally from Sligo. By 1911 Alfred was studying in Dublin. After graduating, he emigrated to Canada c.1912 and worked as a farmer. Alfred enlisted for War service in April 1916. Little more is known about Alfred's military career, however the 2021 edition of the Saskatchewan Canadian Legion Military Service Recognition Book states that Alfred served in the Western Front from 1916-1918, including at the Battle of Vimy Ridge. It appears he was discharged on medical grounds. After the War, it is believed that Alfred remained in the Kindersley area of Sasketchewan and was a grain farmer. After retirement he moved from the townland of Wartime to Elrose, and died there in Dec 1974.
Parents Names:	Son of George Clarke and Charlotte (née Tigh), Ballinalee,
Notes:	Alfred's attestation noted his heterochromia, where his right iris was brown and his left iris was blue.
Links:	Link to Civil Record of Birth; Likely Find A Death entry; link to Canadian Expeditionary Force record; link to possible Saskatchewan Command Legion 2021 commemoration book; possible Canada 1921 Census entry; poss Canada 1941 Census entry;