themarstonlads

Private

Clarence Musgrave

Service Number 14263

Died

21th September 1915

Aged 21

"A" Company, 8th (Service) Battalion,

Cheshire Regiment

70 Ollershaw Lane

Clarence Musgrave, like many men from the area, worked at the nearby salt works, where he was employed as a wagon builder and repairer. His father, Albert Edward Musgrave, also worked at the salt works as a clerk.

Clarence was another Marston Lad that joined the Cheshire Regiment. Clarence enlisted in Chester on 1st September 1914, less than a month after Britain entered the First World War. He joined the 8th (Service) Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment.
The 8th Battalion had been formed at Chester on 12th August 1914 as part of Kitchener's First New Army. It came under the command of the 40th Brigade in the 13th (Western) Division. In June 1915 the battalion embarked for Egypt and subsequently served at Gallipoli. It was therefore not part of the original British Expeditionary Force sent to France and Belgium in 1914.

When Clarence completed his enlistment papers, he gave his age as 22 years and five months. However, the 1911 census and the age recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission indicate that he was probably about 20 when he enlisted.

The reason for this discrepancy is unknown. Men could enlist in the Regular Army from the age of 18, although they were not normally sent overseas until they were 19. Clarence was therefore old enough to enlist without parental permission, and there is no evidence that he increased his age for that reason.

The Cheshire Regiment

British Expeditionary Force (BEF) 1914

On the 30th August 1915, Clarence was admitted to a hospital in Alexandria, described in the original research as the Anzac Hospital, suffering from enteric fever. Enteric fever is the term historically used for typhoid or paratyphoid fever.
He died from the illness on 21st September 1915, aged 21. Clarence lost his fight for life and passed away.

He was buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt, where his grave is recorded as D.163. He is one of 2,259 First World War servicemen buried in the cemetery.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records him as the son of Albert Edward and Ada Musgrave, of 70 Ollershaw Lane, Marston, Northwich, Cheshire.
Clarence was a long way from home when he died, only a year after volunteering to serve his country.

Download and view Clarence Musgrave Commonwealth War Graves Certificate

Left: Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

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The Marston Lads

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