Birmingham, Warwecikshire, Eng. Clarkes

[jorose]

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/
 - you can download his naval records here. He's listed as George Frederick Clarke, 4 May 1886, b. Birmingham. It's unlikely to have anything on his family but there might be some hints - and some info as to why he left after just a couple of years! He would have been just nearly 17 when he signed up, may have been in an institution/industrial school/training ship/etc before that. Workhouse records might turn up something (although without further details it would probably require a visit to the local archives to go through the records).

Do you also have his complete Canadian WWI records, not just the attestation papers?

[donjclarke]

Hello,
I failed to mention the last time that I don't know when George Frederick Clarke died. After he was discharged from the Canadian Forces in June 1918 as medically unfit, he wrote Olga and asked her to bring the children to Canada. She refused, and after an interview with the chief of police of Victoria, B.C. in September of 1918 never made contact with the family again.
Today, I received a post of how to get his naval records. I'm going to do that now and will let you know if anything of worth turns up. He was married in San Diego in July of 1910, so he was just 24. I believe he came to the USA in 1905. Thanks again to all
Don

[KarenM]

Hi don,

You can search the BC vital statitics here, in case he died in BC.

http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-1E62FAB/gbsearch/Births,Marriages,Deaths

Karen

[KarenM]

Just out of curiousity, what was Olga's maiden name?

Karen

[donjclarke]

Good morning, California time,
Olga's maiden name, according to the marriage certificate, was Olga Hansen. However, I believe I have found her, in Norway, as Olga Mathilde Hansdatter. She was born, I believe in Veste Aker, Oslo, Norway on 05 Jan 1880. I believe she came to the USA in 1905 as well. I've looked for her and George on the same ship, but haven't found them. Thought they might have met there.
I downloaded George's naval record as suggested. It gives the name of the ships he served on, and the dates. But at the bottom of the page it says
Run 12 Nov 05 "Berwick" New York, USA.  He served on the "Berwick" from 28 July 05 to 12 Nov 05. Looks like that may have been the way he got here.  What do you think?
Don

[donjclarke]

Hi,
Oops! Forgot! I only have the attestation papers, which I downloaded. I don't have his records Canadian records.
Don (DC)

[KarenM]

Good afternoon, Ontario, Canada time 

You can order his full military file from Library and Archives Canada.  They can be a goldmine of information.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-130-e.html?PHPSESSID=d89hti58ljq4j851rds5epntb4#g

Karen

[jorose]

Yep, that seems to suggest he ran off when they docked in NY.  This is probably the Berwick (photo there).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Berwick_(1902)

What was the first ship he served on?

[KarenM]

Do you have Olga and her children in the 1930 census? 

Karen