Mr Clarke was educated at Sheffield. He is keenly interested in motor ships, and is said to have attended the trial trip of every motor ship of importance.
1882 Began his training as an engineer in the drawing office of John Brown and Co in that city. Subsequently, he passed to the shops, and then to outside erecting work.
1889 He joined P and O Co steamer 'Valetta' as sixth engineer, and until 1912 continued in the company's service as a sea-going engineer. For seven years of that period he acted as chief engineer on several of the company's principal vessels.
1912 He was appointed Superintendent Engineer of the company's steamship services and workshops in Bombay.
1919 He received the post of superintending the construction of the machinery of the P and O Co vessels built on the Wear, Humber, Tyne and Clyde. From that position he has now been advanced to the post mentioned in our opening sentence.
1926 Appointed as Superintendent-Engineer to the P and O Line