Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mansfield Clarke, 57th Regiment

He commanded the 57th Regiment during the advance of the Eshowe Relief Column, including the Battle of Gingindhlovu. Subsequently commanded the 2nd Brigade 1st Division of the Field Force. He also commanded the Column which marched to Ulundi and back via the Middle Drift. (He was also mentioned in despatches)

Date of Birth - 13th December 1839
First Appointment - Ensign - 57th Foot - 1st March 1856
Lieutenant - 57th Foot - 18th November 1859
Adjutant - 57th Foot - 1st January 1862 to 28th February 1866
Captain - 57th Foot - 25th September 1857
Major - 57th Foot - 26th July 1876
Lieutenant-Colonel - 57th Foot - 7th May 1878
Half Pay 8th May 1880
Garrison Adjutant, Taranaki, New Zealand - 1st March 1862 to 10th May 1863
D-A-Q-M-G, New Zealand - 28th June 1863 to 8th March 1866
Aide-de-camp to Brig.- Gen., Belfast District - 21st March 1870 to 31st December 1874
Commandant-General (local Brig.- Gen.) Colonial Forces, Cape of Good Hope - 11th June 1880 to 31st May 1882
A-A and Q-M-G, Southern District & Aldershot District - 9th August 1882 to 31st December 1882 and 1st January 1882 to 15th June 1884
A-A-G, Head Quarters of Army - From 16th June 1884
He was nominated for the CB. on 27th November 1879
New Zealand Wars - 1861, 1863-66 - Operations before Te Arei, actions at Katikara, and as D-A-Q-M-G, at actions in province of Taranaki. Despatches, London Gazette, 21st August 1863, 13th January, 14th June, 23rd August 1864. Medal.
South African War - 1879 - Zulu Campaign - Commanded 57th Regiment at Gingindhlovu and relief of Etshowe, subsequently commanded a force of all arms until the end of campaign. Despatches, London Gazette, 7th May and 10th October 1879. Medal with Clasp. Brevet of Colonel; and CB.


DEATH of SIR CHARLES CLARKE of Worlingham Hall in his 87th year He had been in failing health for some time, and spent the winter at Brighton instead of going to France as he had done regularly for several years. He returned home just a week before his death, and passed peacefully away about 8 o’clock on Tuesday evening. He was born in 1812, and was educated at the Charterhouse, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He took his BA degree in 1831, and his MA in 1835. He married in 1838, Rosa Mary, eldest daughter of Mr Henry Alexander, of Cork Street, and they had issue three sons and five daughters. Lady Clarke died in 1885. Having entered Holy Orders Sir Charles Clarke was appointed Rector of Hanwell in Middlesex in 1847, and held the living till 1864. In 1857 he succeeded his father, the first Baronet, who was physician to Queen Adelaide, the creation dating from 1831, as of Dunham Lodge, Norfolk. He subsequently purchased the Worlingham Hall Estate [at the age of 52] and made his home there, esteemed and respected by all classes. A Liberal in politics before the great schism, he was never very active in party contests, but religious and philanthropic movements found in him a warm supporter.
The parish church at Worlingham owes its restoration to him and his family, and also the fine organ, which dates from 1874. Sir Charles Clarke for many years assisted in the services, and down to the latest period of a long and active life always evinced the warmest interest in all matters relating to the parish and neighbourhood. He took an active interest in establishing the Beccles Hospital, and could always be counted on as a supporter of every movement and institution calculated to benefit the community.
He was not the Rector of Worlingham, but played an active role in the services.
He is succeeded by his eldest son, General Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, KCB l, who was engaged in the New Zealand Wars 1861-66, in the Zulu war, 1879, in Basutoland, 1880-81, and commanded the forces in Madras in 1893-98. The present Baronet was married in 1876 to Gemma Cecilia, only daughter of the late Mr Pitt Adams. At the funeral on Saturday, the flag was flying at half mast over the steeple, and there were other signs of mourning in the village. A very large and representative gathering filled the church to overflowing. The procession started from the Hal about 2.15, and was joined in the Park by the tenants, and at the Park gates by parishioners and a number of tradesmen and others from Beccles and the surrounding district. At the church gates the coffin was transferred from the hand hearse to the bier, and borne into church on the shoulders of eight of the estate workers. The officiating clergy were Rev A Aldred, rector of Worlingham, and Rev W Stanborough, curate to Sir Charles when he was rector of Hanwell.Members of the family present were General Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, who had hurried home from Rome, Miss Clarke, Miss Alice Clarke, Mr Geoffrey Clarke, Mr Frederick Clarke, Mr & Mrs Wm A Clarke, Mr & Mrs Kerrison, Mr Hall-Parlly, Mr Neville Watersfield, Captain Waterfield, Mr Bertram Waterfield, Mr Bertram Waterfield, Mr Laurance Harrison, Mr Leonard Harrison, Mr Roger Kerrison, Dr John Clarke (brother), Mr Alexander, Rev Walter Partridge, Mr Tomlin, Mrs Curtis, Mr A Court, Mr R Bruce (butler) and Miss Page (lady’s maid represented the household servants.The tenants present at the funeral were Messrs E Masters, G King, W Snell, G Hadenham, AC Hadenham, W Hadenham, W Welton, J Aldous, H Jacobs, JP Godbold, James Spatchett, R Read, TL Ashford, DP Giles, WF Smoothy and W Prime (steward).Among the others WM Crowfoot, JE Crisp, AWoods, Lt Clarkson, John Clarke, S Le Grice, HG Read, CH Durrant (agent), EW Hindes, JS Branford, W Hamby, PJ Jolly, HL Robins, AR Block, S Steel, SF Field, R Tilney, TA Poll, James Mills, AG Cross, J Nobbs, CJ Allen, RW Snell, CC Betts, H Copeman, WJ Money, Ex Supt Riches, Inspector Lingley etc.