JUNIPER, BERTRAM CHARLES
Rank: Private
Regiment: Essex Regiment in the 2nd Battalion. 12th Brigade, 4th Division.
Age 22
Date of death 15 September 1915
Service No. 10776

Bertram Charles Juniper was the adopted son of John Linnett Clarke and Selina Clarke - they lived near Abbotts Hall, Great Wigborough and John was a stockman on a farm. Bertram's place of birth is given as Stanway, born 1893. Also living with them is John's nephew George W. Clarke. [1901 census].
By 1911 Bertram was a Farm Labourer, his father is Farm Bailiff, and the family had an adopted younger sister Amelia.

Abbott's Hall, Great Wigborough in 1914. Bertram's adoptive father John Linnett Clark is in the pony and trap. Bertram's adoptive mother Selina is far left and next to her is Emily, wife of John's nephew George. The children belong to George and Emily.

Bertram enlisted at Colchester and served in France & Flanders. He was killed in action near Colincamps in France on the 15 September 1915.

"The 2nd Battalion in August 1914 were stationed in Chatham as part of 12th Brigade, 4th Division. One of the first Divisions to move to France, arriving just in time to join the hard-pressed Divisions of II Corps at The Battle of Le Cateau. The 4th Division remained on the Western Front throughout the war. It took part in many of the major actions.

1914 The Battle of Le Cateau The Division fought in this action without its Mounted Troops, Heavy Battery, Divisional Ammunition Column, Field Companies RE, Signals Company RE, Field Ambulances RAMC and Divisional Train, which were all still en-route from England. Also the Battle of the Marne, the Battle of the Aisne and the Battle of Messines

1914 Units of 4th Division took part in the famous Christmas Truce while they were still in this area, in trenches near Ploegsteert Wood.

1915 The Second Battle of Ypres 22 April - 25 May 1915".

There was no major battle taking place when Bertram was killed in action 15 September 1915.

Bertram earned the 1914-1915 Star; 1914-1920 War Medal; 1914-1919 Victory Medal.

Bertram is buried in Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, France, Reference II. C. 4.
and is commemorated on the War Memorial in Great Wigborough Parish Church

Read More:
Peldon People - John Linnett Clark
Great Wigborough War Memorial

From "If You Shed a Tear" by Edwin Sparrow, Part 2.
14 July 2020 formatted for web by Tony Millatt. More information added about his Wigborough upbringing, with picture of Abbotts Hall.

Edwin Sparrow obtained special dispensation from a number of agencies including the CWGC and The War Graves photographic project regarding copyright on their material used in "If YOu Shed a Tear". The IWM granted a non commercial licence for their material used in the book, in view of the nature of the book being commemorative rather than published for commercial reasons.