The Airmen's Stories - P/O A W Clarke

Arthur William Clarke was born in Altrincham on December 26th 1919. In January 1931 he and his sister went to Cheadle Hulme (Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks' Orphan) School, their father having died. Clarke became a House Captain and then School Captain in September 1937. He left in March 1938, having been awarded the 'John Rylands' Gold Watch, and took up a post in the Meteorological Department at the. Air Ministry. He left when be joined the RAF on a short service commission in June 1939. With training completed, Clarke went to 12 Group Pool on March 8th 1940. He converted to Hurricanes and joined 504 Squadron on April 7th. He was shot down on September 11th in combat over the Kent coast and reported 'Missing. His name is on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 7.

However, an investigation of an aircraft which crashed and burned out south of Rookelands, near Newchurch on Romney Marsh, proved beyond any doubt that it was Hurricane P3770. Items found confirmed the pilot's identity as being Pilot Officer AW Clarke and also that he had not left the cockpit. Next-of-kin decided that his remains should be left undisturbed and that a memorial should be erected close to the crash site. This memorial was dedicated on September 11th 1986.

The memorial is sited on the verge of the Newchurch to New Romney road, south of Newchurch and just south of Rookelands (if using the 1:50000 OS map) at a place marked Starveacre Bridge (if using the 1:25000 OS map).

Recent editions of the 1:50000 OS map 189 Ashford and Romney Marsh have the exact spot marked ‘Mon.’ (for monument).