Ellis Clarke was the son of Thomas and Annie Clarke and the husband of Lily Clarke, of Burnley. He enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers and volunteered for airborne forces.

Private Clarke successfully completed his parachute training on course number 11 at RAF Ringway. The course lasted from 6 to 18 April 1942. He was posted to T Company, Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, and took part in the campaigns in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Operation Market Garden (Arnhem).

Pte Clarke was killed in action on 20 September 1944, aged 24. He was given a field burial by ruined buildings near the railway line Arnhem-Nijmegen, Klingelbeekseweg and was re-interred to Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on 9 February 1946.

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