Serjeant 16980

11th Btn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt.)

Died Sunday 22nd February 1920, Aged 27.

Buried: Selston St Helen's Churchyard, Nottinghamshire, U.K.

Grave Ref:  Old Portion Right 2.1. Index No. UK 1859

Clarence Kirkland was born in 1892, son of Nehemiah and Alice Kirkland of Station Road, Selston.  His father Nehemiah was born at Kirkby in 1852 (occupation coal miner) and  his mother Alice was also born at Kirkby in 1859.  His father was widowed in 1914 when Alice died, on 1st January, at the relatively young age of 55 years. Nehemiah lived on to the age of 75, dying on 7th July 1927. 

Clarence was one of their younger offspring, having brothers and sisters Mary Ann b. 1878, Bertram b. 1883, Arthur b. 1888, Joe b. 1890, Albert (d.o.b. not known), Archibald b. 1894, Alice b. 1897 and Grace Ellen (d.o.b. not known).  Clarence was baptised on 7th August 1892 at St Helen's Church, Selston along with his brother Albert.  

Clarence is buried at St Helen's Church, Selston, dying after the end of World War One, on 22nd February 1920, aged only 27 years.  On his graveside, there is an engraving of a rifle, which was a tribute to him from 'comrades and friends'. He is also mentioned on his parents' grave which is also at St Helen's.

This decorated serviceman, was awarded an M.M, (gazetted on 11th November 1916, page ref 'London Gazette' 10925) for gallantry and devotion to duty when serving as a Lance Corporal in the attack at Fleurs Le Sans on 1st October 1916.  He was awarded a B.A.A. Bar, later in the same year, (gazetted on 9th Dec 1916, 'London Gazette' page ref 12059) having by then attained the rank of Serjeant, for gallantry and devotion to duty in the trenches in front of Sanctuary Wood, between the 21st and 26th October 1916.  

Last updated 27/12/02