Service No.- 879

Rank- Lieutenant

Division- 11th Battalion

Enlisted- 7/09/1914

Discharged- 12/12/1920

Date of Death- 28/02/1986

Age at Death- 91

Burial Location- Bunbury General Cemetery- Lawn A- 15

 

Key Dates/ Events

25/04/1915- Amongst the first soldiers ashore at the Gallipoli Landing at 4.30 A.M

August 1915- Fought in the Battle of Lone Pine, Gallipoli, then transferred to Hospital suffering Diarrhoea

April 1916- Hospitalized near Sailly sur la Lys suffering Influenza/Diptheria

July 1916- Suffered Gunshot wounds to skull and shoulder in the Battle for Pozieres, France

March 1917- Promoted to Second Lieutenant

July 1917- Promoted to Lieutenant

September 1917- Suffered Gunshot wound to head in the Third Battle for Ypres, Belgium at Polygon Wood

August 1918- Suffered severe Gunshot Wounds to face, being shot through both eyes, and blinded for life. Wounding occurred at Battle for Lihons, France, after the long march from Hamel to Harbonnieres.

Clarke  was transferred to 3rd General Hospital, London for treatment. He was subsequently moved to St. Dunstan’s Hostel, Regents Park, London where he undertook training to assist cope with his blindness.

July 1920- Embarked for Australia on the “ Orvieto “

December- 1920-  Discharged from the Army

October 1926- Married to Irene Benson, fathered 5 children and built high quality furniture during his working life.