Lewis Clarke was born in Norley on 25th November 1878, the son of Arnold Brereton (born Ashton) and Frances Clarke (born Norley).
In 1881, Lewis lived at Flaxmere, Norley with his grandfather, Joseph Clark, who was a widower and his aunts and uncles and cousins. At this time Arnold Brereton and Frances Clarke were working as servants in Norley. They married in 1884.
Ten years later Arnold and Frances were living in a cottage in Cuddington with 11-year old Lewis and Sarah A. (6) and Hannah (3). The father was an agricultural labourer.
In 1901 Lewis was recorded as living with the Kippax family and their three children in Hatton: they were his cousins from Norley. Lewis was an agricultural labourer.
Lewis married Charlotte Smith on 14th August 1909 at Daresbury. She was formerly Charlotte Maddock who had married Fred Smith in 1907, but who had died the following year aged 25 years. He was the brother of Harry and Roger Smith of Hatton, who also served in the Great War. Charlotte and Fred’s son Fred was born on 14th September 1908 and brought up by Lewis and Charlotte.
By 1911 they were living in Factory Yard in Hatton and Lewis was working as an estate labourer. They had Fred Smith Clarke (2) and John (1) and a boarder, John Buckley who also served in the Great War.
Lewis’ war service records show two service numbers: 370146 (or possibly 370176) as a private in the Army Service Corps, also 43402 as a driver in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (RASC section), 1st Battalion, infantry transport. He had been called up in November 1916, but was transferred on substitution to Class W Army Reserve. He joined up on 2nd February 1918, whilst living at Factory Yard. His job at the time was as a labourer. He left Southampton on 29th March 1918 on board SS Archimedes and disembarked 30th March at Le Havre. Lewis served in France, was demobilised on 4th February 1919 and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
After the Great War he continued to live in Factory Yard in Hatton and eventually moved to Hewitt’s Cottages in the village. In 1939 he was residing there with his wife Charlotte and his stepson Fred Smith (a head cowman) and Lewis J. Clarke, a highways labourer. Lewis Clarke was described as an incapacitated farm labourer.
Lewis Clarke died in September 1965 at the age of 77 years.