Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Lt Col

Army Number : 162409

Unit : Royal 1st Bn

Biography :

After some years in the ranks, from OCTU Cadet Alfred ('Nobby') Clark was commissioned Lt in The Leicestershire Regiment on 21.12.1940. Promoted Temporary Captain 8.5.1941. Transferred to Army Air Corps (Parachute Regiment) as a Lt on 1.8.1942. Was awarded the M.C. (L.G. 21.12.1944) for his actions as Company Commander, 13th Bn Parachute Regt, Pont L’Eveque, France, 23 Aug 1944. His commanding officer wrote to his wife, "I am we all are so delighted at Nobby's Military Cross. I don't expect since he never talks about himself that he will really tell you all about it. The MC was an immediate award for his action in a rather tricky battle. He was absolutely magnificent and utterly imperturbable, and led his Company wonderfully. At the end when his Battalion was withdrawn from the village, we were fighting and knocking hell out of them, four to one. Nobby was really at his best. He knew the danger no one better that the artillery fire was due to come down just where he was, but he insisted on staying to help one of his wounded across the river. Finally he stood in the middle of the stream, with the bullets all about him, covering the last one back with his automatic, and actually laughing at the danger and the enemy. There has never been a finer example of leadership and devotion to duty. Indeed that is just him. His Company adore him and would follow him anywhere, and I know that no award is more popular in the Battalion, and, in fact, the Brigade. I am so awfully pleased."
He transferred back to The Leicestershire Regiment and was promoted Captain on 17.1.1945. Promoted Major on 9.3.1946, and in late 1946 was serving in The Parachute Regiment. Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal on 2.1.1948. From Nov 1948-late 1950 he was serving in the RAF Parachute Training School. In Nov 1950 he joined 1st R Lincolns in the Middle East. In Aug 1952 he was attached to HQ Wessex Bde as a Camp Commandant, followed in Feb 1953 by service in the Army Apprentice School, Harrogate. Retired on retired pay on 6.7.1953, and granted the hon. rank of Lt-Col. Having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall, he ceased to belong to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers on 25.8.1956.
In 1953 he studied at the London School of Divinity, and was ordained Deacon in 1955 in the Salisbury Diocese for service in Lahore, Pakistan. He travelled to Pakistan in 1956 and was ordained Priest in 1957, serving in the Church Missionary Society in Lahore. On return to England he was a Military Knight of Windsor 1971-87; when the London Gazette announced his appointment he was not described as "Reverend".
He died in 1992, aged 85 years. He is buried in the Windsor (Saint George) Churchyard, Windsor, the memorial paving stone recording him as "The Reverend Alfred Reeves Clark MC 1906-1992 Lieutenant Colonel The Leicestershire Regiment Military Knight 1971-1987".

In April 2023 in miniature medals were sold by Spinks Auctions for the sum of £100 with the following information:

The mounted M.C. group of seven miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel The Reverend A. R. Clark, 13th Battalion (Lancashire), Parachute Regiment, late Trooper, Royal Horse Guards, latterly a Military Knight of Windsor

Military Cross, G.VI.R.; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Jubilee 1977; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (7)

M.C. London Gazette 21 December 1944. An award for his command of 'C' Company in August 1944 at Pont L'Eveque.

Alfred Reeves Clark was born on 9 March 1906 and initially served in the Royal Horse Guards as a Trooper from 1925 and remained with the Household Cavalry until 1937, when transferred to the Queen's Bays. Selected for Officer Training, he was made 2nd Lieutenant in the Leicestershire Regiment and thence volunteered for Parachute training, which saw him jump into Normandy on the night of 5 June. Having shared in the famous action at Ranville, Clark was severely wounded in Holland the next year and partially blinded.

Returned to his post, he went to assist in parachute training and afterwards went to join the Lincolnshire Regiment in Egypt when he found an interest in the church. He left the Army in 1953 and took Holy Orders, initially on missionary work in Lahore and then as a Chaplain at Liverpool Prison. He was made the first Supernumerary Military Knight of Windsor, a post he held for some sixteen years.

Clark died in January 1992; sold together with his two pressed card identity tags, these named '162409 A R Clark CE', a Royal Tournament silver Medal, this engraved '1927 Mounted Team Competition The Life Guards (1st and 2nd) Tpr. A. L. Clarke [sic]', besides two photographs of the recipient, one of these with the Prince of Wales.

Date of Birth : 25.8.1906

Place of Birth : Forest Row, Sussex

Date of Death : 9.1.1992

Place of Death : Heytesbury, Wilts

Civil Occupation : Minister of the Church of England

Period of Service : 1940-1956

Conflicts : WW2

Places Served : UK, France