Dr Eric and Fergie Dark (Sheffield residents 196-18)

[Guest Waddell]

I noticed RichardB's appeal for new members to put forward questions on the forum during the week. Well here is a request for information I have not researched. So here we go.

Some background. During the First World War my wife's grandfather was serving with the AIF on the western front. He was wounded at Pozieres and sent to recover at a military hospital at Tunbridge Wells. Whilst recovering he visited some relatives in Sheffield. They are referred to in family letters as Doctor Eric and Fergie Dark.

That's all I know about them. Can anyone tell me a little about them?

I'm not that concerned with establishing a link to the family but more learning about who the Darks were.

Thanks,

Scott.

Note- my wife's Grandfathers surname is Dare if that is of any help.

[RichardB]

Thanks for posting, no idea if we can help but if you don't ask we'll never know if someone had information or a lead. Good Luck.

Only one entry for Dark at http://www.sheffieldrecordsonline.org.uk/

Rev. Walter Alexander Dark, Vicar of St. Bartholomews, 96 Upperthorpe (in both 1911 and 1919)

possible relation, though making no claims.

No entries at all for Dare.

Possible it is an error and that both should be Dark or indeed Dare.

Anyone else got any ideas ?

[RichardB]

1901 Census has a Minnie Dark, 21 years old, from Clevedon, Somerset; a visitor with the Bryars family at 76 Glen Road, Abbeydale (St. Peters).

[RichardB]

1901 Census has Eliza Dare (21), John (22) and John (1 month) living with Mum Lucy Jane Boucher (69) and her daughter Lucy Boucher (18, single) at 130 Rockingham Lane.

----------

Making no claims here, just FYI.

[RichardB]

Seems to be a bias for Dare in the 1901 Census to Somerset, North Curry and Curry Rivel, Curry Mallett - I kid you not.

Also a bunch from Steeple Bumpstead/Haverhill, Suffolk though those names are not as silly.

[HughW]

Sheffield Indexers has...

Dark, Arthur Cecil (Pte./3636, Great War Roll of Honour).

Residing at Australian Imperial Force, Sheffield in 1914-1918.

Recorded in: City of Sheffield Roll of Honour of Sheffield Men.

And the CWGC site says that he was...

"Son of the Rev Joseph and Mary Dare Dark, husband of Laura M Dark, Native of Parramatta, New South Wales."

(died 29 Aug 1918, aged 42)

Hugh

[HughW]

Biography of Eric Payten DARK from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.

Appears to be another son of Rev Joseph, by his third wife (Arthur Cecil was probably the son of his first). Eric was a doctor who served on the Western Front. He was gassed and convalesced in England - maybe in Sheffield?

Hugh

[Guest Waddell]

Thanks Richard and Hugh. I'm glad I asked.

Hugh I think you've cracked it with Arthur Cecil Dark. I've had a look at his service records and after his death there was correspondence between the army and Arthur's brother, the Reverend W A Dark of St Bartholomew's Vicarage of 96 Upperthorpe Sheffield.

I'm just guessing but I would say that their mother Mary Dare Dark would have been my wife's Grandfathers aunt. His father was Francis Henry Dare and he lived in Granville in Sydney right next to Parramatta, where Arthur Cecil Dark was born.

So Arthur and Walter Dark were most likely cousins. Dr Eric Dark was another cousin by marriage only as you say Reverend Joseph married three times.

Arthur Cecil Dark's record indicates that he spent just over a month on the western front and was buried in an unmarked grave. He was 41 years old at the time.

Is the Sheffield City Honour Roll on a memorial in Sheffield?

Thanks

Scott

[Guest Trefcon]

Hi Waddle,

Arthur's name appears on the St. Bartholomew's Roll of Honour.

Last name on it, bottom right.

The Sheffield Roll of Honour is in book form.

Dean.

[neddy]

1911 census has Virginia DARK age 47 at 96 Upprthorpe with two servants

FREEBMD

Marriages Dec 1896

Dark William Alexander - Barton R. 6a 148

Newton Virginia - Barton R. 6a 148

[Guest Waddell]

Thanks Dean- I thought you may have some details.

Neddy- Thats Fergie solved.

Hugh- I found Dr. Eric Darks memoirs online. Interesting reading.

http://www.vlib.us/medical/dark/dark.htm

Thanks all.

Scott.

[Guest Waddell]

Just returning to this thread after five years. I am currently finishing a story I am writing about Arthur Cecil Dark and would like to use the image of the St. Bartholomew's Roll of Honour that Dean has posted in post.9. If Dean is still around ?

Also I would be interested in knowing when that Roll of Honour was installed in the original St. Bartholomew's Church?

I note that Walter A Dark, Vicar is in the lower right corner of the right panel, so I would guess during his tenure.

Regards,

Scott

[HughW]

It doesn't answer the question but here is the entry in the National Inventory of War Memorials: http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.27965/

[Guest Waddell]

Thanks anyway Hugh.

Scott