Lives of the First World War

23rd July 1916 - 4th November 1918

James Hyatt Clark was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty in the attack on Ovillers on 23rd July 1916. When allied front and communication trenches were being very heavily shelled by the enemy, James remained for four hours continuously repairing the telephone lines from the Brigade to Battalion Report Centre. The line of which he was in charge was being constantly cut by shell fire, sometimes in two or three places at a time, and it was entirely owing to his continuous exertions in repairing and patrolling that the line to the 6th Bn R.W. Kent R was ever kept through. James was then awarded the Bar to the Military Medal on 9th August 1917 when, near Monchy-le-Preux, he showed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in keeping the telephone lines in repair between the Relay Post and Battalion Headquarters. There was heavy shelling and the lines were continually cut; the original line becoming hopelessly cut, so James laid a completely new line under very heavy barrage. By his absolute fearlessness, communication was kept up throughout the bombardment. In the summer of 1918 James obtained a Commission in the Royal Air Force. As a pilot he showed great promise, but his machine crashed and he fell, fatally injured a few days before the cessation of hostilities.

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