Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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   Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas Roderick J Clark
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Dated added: 03/09/2016   Last updated: 18/07/2020
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: HMS Bullen, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve (British Navy)
Date Of Birth: 10/09/1924
Died: 06/12/1944 (Died at Sea)
Age: 20
Summary      
Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark was the eldest son of Thomas Jackson Clark and Mary Vera Eileen Clark. Roddie was born on 10th September1924. He was the eldest of four children. The family lived in Upperlands. Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on board H.M.S. Bullen in World War Two. On 6th December 1944, HMS Bullen was sunk by a U-boat off Strathy Point in the Pentland Firth while on escort duty.
Further Information
Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark was the eldest son of Thomas Jackson Clark and Mary Vera Eileen Clark.
Thomas Jackson and Mary Vera Eileen Clark on their wedding day.
Thomas’ father gained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Army Service Corps (MT) in the First World War.
Thomas R J Clark was born on 10th September1924. He was the eldest of four children.
The family lived in Upperlands.
Family: Thomas Jackson Clark, Mary Vera Eileen Clark, Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark (born 10th September1924), David Campbell Clark (born 5th Aug 1926), Desmond Moore Clark (born 9th Sep 1927), Victoria Marguerite Clark (born 28th May 1945).
Thomas Clark was educated at Shrewsbury.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31st August 1940: Upperlands (Captain T J Clark – father of Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark)
Great satisfaction is felt in the district at the news that Captain T J Clark, Royal Army Service Corps, who was recently seriously ill, is now making good progress towards recovery.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 28th December 1940: Upperlands (Captain T J Clark – father of Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark)
During the past weekend a number of local men serving with the Forces arrived home on leave. Amongst them were Captain T J Clark, Royal Army Service Corps, and Captain H F Clark, Royal Artillery. All the men are in A1 form, and they are always sure of a warm welcome in this patriotic district. Since the outbreak of war, a large number of men have joined up and when they get a few days leave the inhabitants of the district are always delighted to see them.
Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on board H.M.S. Bullen in World War Two.
HMS Bullen
On 6th December 1944, HMS Bullen was sunk by a U-boat off Strathy Point in the Pentland Firth while on escort duty. Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas R J Clark was 20 years old.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd December 1944:
Major T Clark and Mrs Clark of Upperlands have received official notification that their eldest son, Sub-lieutenant T R J Clark, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, has been reported missing, presumed killed on active service. Educated at Shrewsbury, he volunteered in July 1943 and was commissioned this year. He was a grandson of Mr H J Clark, D.L., of Upperlands, and of the late Colonel A J Campbell, D.S.O., of Ballycastle. Major Clark served in the 1914-18 war and re-joined the Army on the outbreak of war.
According to his grandfather’s diaries, Harry Jackson Clark, ‘Roddie’ (as he was apparently known) was lost at sea when the ship on which he was serving as a sub-lieutenant was torpedoed off Cape Wrath.
Thomas’ father fought in the Second World War. He gained the rank of Major. He was a director of William Clark & Sons Ltd.
Thomas’ father held the office of High Sheriff of County Derry in 1951.
Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark has no known grave and is commemorated on Panel 79 of the Chatham Naval Memorial in Kent.
The CWGC record Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas Roderick Jackson Clark as the son of Thomas Jackson Clark and Mary Vera Eileen Clark of Upperlands, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
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Relevant Magherafelt Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Upperlands area Upperlands CWGC lists parents in Upperlands 54.878805 -6.641397
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 Chatham Memorial Panels Photos of all the Chatham Memorial Panels
2 Harry Jackson Clark - 1945 Details of 'Roddie'
3 Harry Jackson Clark - family Photos of Roddie Clark's parents
4 The Peerage Clark family details
5 Uboat.net - HMS Bullen List of casualties - HMS Bullen
Magherafelt District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2014-2023