In memory of Thomas Ellis Clarke

Photo of Thomas Ellis ClarkeThomas Ellis Clarke was born in Cardiff on 19 February 1984 to Denise and Bruce Clarke. He grew up in the Vale of Glamorgan and attended school in Cowbridge. In his teens he was an air cadet in Cowbridge. He graduated in biological sciences from the University of Birmingham in 2006, and was a talented rugby player. He married Angela Gordon in 2012.

Thomas followed his elder brother Simon into the Army. Simon served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers to the rank of Captain and undertook a tour of duty in the Iraq conflict.

Thomas moved to the officer training academy at Sandhurst and subsequently joined the Army Air Corps. He completed his training as a helicopter pilot in May 2010. He gained a reputation as a hard-working and gifted aviator, and was popular for his humility, brightness and charm.

On 26 April 2014, Captain Clarke was one of five men who died when a Lynx helicopter crashed in Kandahar, southern Afghanistan. He was 30 years old. He left his wife, Angie. On 19 May 2014, crowds lined the streets in the centre of Cowbridge to pay their respects as his funeral cortege passed.

Capt Clarke’s name was inscribed on the town’s war memorial in autumn 2014.

Back to listing page (Cowbridge war memorial)

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