Clark, Ordinary Signalman John Douglas, Royal Navy, HMS Stronghold

John’s parents lived at Dunnichen, 26 Naughton Road, Wormit. He worked in his father’s optometry business, and had married two weeks before leaving for his last trip. He ran the Scout Troop in Newport and was keen on fancy dress, famously dressing as a Maharajah visiting Wormit. He also appears in our wonderful coronation film from 1937, this time dressed as Hitler!

He was on a ship taking refugees from Singapore to Perth, Western Australia which took a direct hit from the Japanese. He was reported as missing believed killed. He died on 2nd March 1942, aged 31. His name is recorded on the Portsmouth War Memorial along with 25,000 other sailors lost at sea during both world wars. John is also remembered on the Wormit Church memorial plaque.

Poppy made by P7, Wormit School.