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Auction: 24111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 617

Five: Major P. G. Clarke, The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment), who was killed in action on 2 September 1942

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Lieut. P. G. Clarke. The Buffs.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, traces of lacquer, good very fine (5)

Peter Graham Clarke was born in 1916, the only son of Colonel Reginald Graham Clarke, C.M.G., D.S.O., and Dorothy Mary Clarke, of Folkestone. Having been to University, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into The Buffs in January 1936 and first saw active service in Palestine (Medal & clasp).

By the time of the Second World War, he served as a Major in Command of the Anti-Tank Company of the 1st Battalion at Deir El Shein in July 1942. In that action he had been detached to 18th Indian Brigade and '...with this formation, at Deir El Shein, twelve miles west of El Alamein, on 1 July 1942, these men, who had scarcely had a chance to fire their new guns, did splendid work in support of 2/5th Essex Regiment, earning them particular praise of its Commanding Officer. The Company had lost 60% of its strength by the time it re-joined the Battalion ten days later.'

Having been killed in action together with two of his men, due to a Stuka dive-bombing attack behind the front line on 2 September 1942, he was initially buried near where he fell at Alam El Tritriya, before eventually being laid to rest at the El Alamein Cemetery in May 1943. His gravestone reads:

'WEARING THE WHITE FLOWER OF A BLAMELESS LIFE.'

Sold together with a plaque with his details upon it.

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£210