Joseph Falconbridge Clarke was born in Alfreton on 1st October 1899. In 1901 Joseph was one year old, his father was named Jonas and was 22 and his mother Maria was 19. Jonas was a coal miner loader. They were living in Chapel Street Codnor.

By 1911 he lived with his father, Jonas Falconbridge Clarke who was a coal miner hewer and his mother Elizabeth Maria as well as 3 brothers and 3 sisters who all survived childhood. The family lived in a five roomed dwelling, 17 Vernon Road Kirby in Ashfield Notts.

Navy Record

Joseph joined the Navy on his 18th birthday on 1st October 1917. He signed on in Portsmouth for 12 years. Up until then he had been a collier.

At the time he signed on he was described as 5 feet 6 and a quarter inches tall, chest 34 inches, hair auburn brown, eyes brown and a fresh complexion. He had a scar on the left hand side of his neck, horse shoe and “Good Luck” on his left forearm, and small scars on his back.

Joseph became a Stoker 1st Class in 1919 and served upon the Malaya, the Victory II, the Queen Elizabeth and the Victory II again.

Joseph was Invalided from Navy 9th December 1920.

In the 1939 records there is a Joseph Clarke born on 7th May 1899. He was a Co-op Manager in the coal department and he was a Special Constable. He lived with his wife Edith who was born on 21st May 1898. They were living in Heanor. He possibly died December 1962 aged about 63.