Colonel William James Clarke was born on 16 January 1860 at Worth, Sussex, England. He married Cecily Francis Giles, daughter of Major James Giles and Isabella Francis Gaye.
He fought in the Anglo War War of 1879. He was with the Natal Mounted Police between March 1878 and 1905.
In 1880 a small body of Police under Sergeant Faddy served as escort to the ex-Empress of France when she visited the spot where her son, the Prince Imperial, was killed during the Zulu War. The late Colonel. W. J. Clarke, then Corporal, comprised one of this escort.
In 1888 Sergeant William James Clarke was appointed to the vacant Sub-Inspectorship. This officer became Chief Commissioner of the Natal Police upon the retirement of Colonel George Mansel towards the end of 1906.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT Sub-Inspector W. J. Clarke (afterwards Chief Commissioner) began the Criminal Investigation Department in Pietermaritzburg in 1894. By his personal efforts he later introduced the fingerprint system and built up what became a highly efficient department under a commissioned officer. All difficult cases of serious crime in the Colony were dealt with by the C.I.D.
He was at the siege of Ladysmith in 1899.
In 1910 he was one of the founder members of 'The Association of Past and Present Members of the Natal Mounted Police and the Natal Police'.
He was Officer-in-Charge of the 2nd South Africa Mounted Rifles Battalion between 1913 and 1917. He fought in the First World War, in South West Africa, and was mentioned in despatches. He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Between 1918 and 1919 he was involved in an MI5 mission to Russia to rescue the Romanovs. He was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus of Russia.
Died 6 May 1936, Buried at Commercial Road Cemetery, Pietermaritzburg, Natal.
He fought in the Anglo War War of 1879. He was with the Natal Mounted Police between March 1878 and 1905.
In 1880 a small body of Police under Sergeant Faddy served as escort to the ex-Empress of France when she visited the spot where her son, the Prince Imperial, was killed during the Zulu War. The late Colonel. W. J. Clarke, then Corporal, comprised one of this escort.
In 1888 Sergeant William James Clarke was appointed to the vacant Sub-Inspectorship. This officer became Chief Commissioner of the Natal Police upon the retirement of Colonel George Mansel towards the end of 1906.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT Sub-Inspector W. J. Clarke (afterwards Chief Commissioner) began the Criminal Investigation Department in Pietermaritzburg in 1894. By his personal efforts he later introduced the fingerprint system and built up what became a highly efficient department under a commissioned officer. All difficult cases of serious crime in the Colony were dealt with by the C.I.D.
He was at the siege of Ladysmith in 1899.
In 1910 he was one of the founder members of 'The Association of Past and Present Members of the Natal Mounted Police and the Natal Police'.
He was Officer-in-Charge of the 2nd South Africa Mounted Rifles Battalion between 1913 and 1917. He fought in the First World War, in South West Africa, and was mentioned in despatches. He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Between 1918 and 1919 he was involved in an MI5 mission to Russia to rescue the Romanovs. He was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus of Russia.
Died 6 May 1936, Buried at Commercial Road Cemetery, Pietermaritzburg, Natal.
Colonel William James Clarke was born on 16 January 1860 at Worth, Sussex, England. He married Cecily Francis Giles, daughter of Major James Giles and Isabella Francis Gaye.
He fought in the Anglo War War of 1879. He was with the Natal Mounted Police between March 1878 and 1905.
In 1880 a small body of Police under Sergeant Faddy served as escort to the ex-Empress of France when she visited the spot where her son, the Prince Imperial, was killed during the Zulu War. The late Colonel. W. J. Clarke, then Corporal, comprised one of this escort.
In 1888 Sergeant William James Clarke was appointed to the vacant Sub-Inspectorship. This officer became Chief Commissioner of the Natal Police upon the retirement of Colonel George Mansel towards the end of 1906.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT Sub-Inspector W. J. Clarke (afterwards Chief Commissioner) began the Criminal Investigation Department in Pietermaritzburg in 1894. By his personal efforts he later introduced the fingerprint system and built up what became a highly efficient department under a commissioned officer. All difficult cases of serious crime in the Colony were dealt with by the C.I.D.
He was at the siege of Ladysmith in 1899.
In 1910 he was one of the founder members of 'The Association of Past and Present Members of the Natal Mounted Police and the Natal Police'.
He was Officer-in-Charge of the 2nd South Africa Mounted Rifles Battalion between 1913 and 1917. He fought in the First World War, in South West Africa, and was mentioned in despatches. He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Between 1918 and 1919 he was involved in an MI5 mission to Russia to rescue the Romanovs. He was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus of Russia.
Died 6 May 1936, Buried at Commercial Road Cemetery, Pietermaritzburg, Natal.
He fought in the Anglo War War of 1879. He was with the Natal Mounted Police between March 1878 and 1905.
In 1880 a small body of Police under Sergeant Faddy served as escort to the ex-Empress of France when she visited the spot where her son, the Prince Imperial, was killed during the Zulu War. The late Colonel. W. J. Clarke, then Corporal, comprised one of this escort.
In 1888 Sergeant William James Clarke was appointed to the vacant Sub-Inspectorship. This officer became Chief Commissioner of the Natal Police upon the retirement of Colonel George Mansel towards the end of 1906.
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT Sub-Inspector W. J. Clarke (afterwards Chief Commissioner) began the Criminal Investigation Department in Pietermaritzburg in 1894. By his personal efforts he later introduced the fingerprint system and built up what became a highly efficient department under a commissioned officer. All difficult cases of serious crime in the Colony were dealt with by the C.I.D.
He was at the siege of Ladysmith in 1899.
In 1910 he was one of the founder members of 'The Association of Past and Present Members of the Natal Mounted Police and the Natal Police'.
He was Officer-in-Charge of the 2nd South Africa Mounted Rifles Battalion between 1913 and 1917. He fought in the First World War, in South West Africa, and was mentioned in despatches. He was appointed Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) Between 1918 and 1919 he was involved in an MI5 mission to Russia to rescue the Romanovs. He was awarded the Order of St. Stanislaus of Russia.
Died 6 May 1936, Buried at Commercial Road Cemetery, Pietermaritzburg, Natal.
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