George William Clarke

Story:
George William Clarke was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 May 1900 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 1 Sep 1901 the son of Thomas William Clarke (Grocer) and Lilian Mary Clarke (nee Figgins).  He lived nearly all his life in Shaftesbury not least at the family Grocer's shop at 56 High Street.  He received some of his education at Shaftesbury Grammar School, Shaftesbury, on leaving which he enlisted with the Royal Flying Corps as a Boy on 29 Nov 1917 (Service No. 158027).  On achieving the age of 18 he was made a Private Class 2 in the, by now, Royal Air Force on 29 May 1918.  He was promoted to Sergeant and posted to Hillingdon, Uxbridge, Middlesex, Cadet Wing for instruction in aviation on 14 Sep 1918.  He was discharged on 17 Apr 1919 and resumed his employment in his father's business as evidenced in the 1921 Census.  He married Winifred Ware Piper in Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29 May 1937 and by the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 7 Grosvenor Road, Shaftesbury, Dorset, described as a Grocer and also a Volunteer ARP Warden.  His death was recorded in Southampton, Hampshire, on 13 May 1968.