Living in Newick
Squadron Leader Cecil Christian Clark, Royal Air Force lived at White Knights, Fletching Common, Newick whilst stationed at RNAS Gosport between 1936 and the time of his death in 1939
Cuckfield
The First World War - Flying Ace
In 1916 he served in the Royal Field Artillery.
After transferring to the Royal Flying Corps and completing training and obtaining a pilot's license, on February 1, 1917 he was posted to No. 1 Squadron RAF.
He achieved his first victory on March 15 in a Nieuport aircraft over the German Albatros D.II aircraft. In the Nieuport aircraft he achieved 3 victories. After the unit was rearmed with S.E. 5a, Clark won another 7 victories in April and May 1918. His last victory was on May 7. A day later, during a dogfight, he was wounded and shot down by Harry von Bülow-Bothkamp from Jasta 36.
Clark was captured by the Germans, where he remained until the end of the war.
Squadron Leader Cecil Clark's death
Squadron Leader Cecil Christian Clark died aged 42 on 30th November 1939 whilst flying. He stalled and crashed into Fareham Creek whilst practising circuits and bumps in rain and cloud at RNAS Gosport
Commemorating Squadron Leader Cecil Clark
Cecil Clark is buried in Ann's Hill Cemetery, Gosport, Hampshire, which houses the remains of 284 servicemen. In addition to commonwealth servicemen it also includes some German Airforce and Army personal.
