ALC Clarke 1874-1935

ALCC is one of the officers in the back row on the eve of the 1st Battalion's departure for the Boer War. The senior officer in the front row is Field Marshal Roberts VC October 1899.

CLARKE, Arthur Lionel Crisp., D.S.O. 1916; late Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; born 30 August 1874; 2nd son of J. Crisp Clarke and Mrs Crisp Clarke of Birstall Hall, Leicestershire; married 1910 Mary Francis, daughter of late Sir Alexander Bradshaw, K.C.B., and widow of Major Graham Moon of Seaforth Highlanders; Educated Rugby School. Joined Leicestershire Yeomanry Militia 1892; 1st Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 1896; General Staff War Office, A.A. and Q.M.G. Army of Occupation, Egypt etc.; Served South Africa War (despatches, Queens Medal and 5 clasps); European War 1914 - 19; served on General Staff in France and Macedonia (Bt. Lt.-Col., D.S.O.) Address: Birstall Hall Estate Office, near Leicester. Club: Army & Navy. Died 15 February 1935. Source: Who Was Who, Volume 3, 1929 - 40

Lieutenant Colonel Hannay and the Officers of the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Aldershot 1896 Autumn. 2/Lt AL Crisp-Clarke would be somewhere among their number.

Crisp-Clarke's MIC Card

Scottish 1828 Pattern Broadsword # 34246 by Wilkinson for 2nd Lieutenant Arthur Lionel Crisp Clarke, A&SH 1896

Lieutenant Colonel Hannay and RSM Williamson of the 1st Battalion in 1896. Lieutenant Colonel Hannay's Field Officer's sword is like that worn by Lieutenant Colonel Clarke in 1914.

This sword with the 1856 RE pattern hilt affixed was ordered from Wilkinson sword in 1896 for Arthur Lionel Crisp Clarke who was gazetted into the Regiment's 1st Battalion for that year. On the blade one will note his initials A[rthur]L[oinel]Crisp-Clarke]The Guard is not original to the sword having been ordered c.1914 when he became a T/Lieutenant Colonel which entitled him to this type of guard. This guard was the 1856 Royal Engineers Pattern which was proscribed for the Field Officers of the Black Watch, Highland Light Infantry, Seaforth Highlanders and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.One will also note that the guard is fixed permanently as opposed to having it removable. He must have decided to have this option done which was sometimes done to FO swords for these Regiments. However, thankfully,the grip is new and restored to how it would have originally been in 1896.

Proved on 30th June 1896 by Wilkinson Sword