100 days of heroes: Photo engraver Claude Clark travelled interstate to enlist
PHOTO engraver Claude Clark’s first attempt at enlisting for service in World War I was cancelled on medical grounds, but he travelled to Victoria to enlist there.
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
PHOTO engraver Claude Clark’s first attempt at enlisting for service in World War I was cancelled on medical grounds, but he travelled to Victoria to enlist there.
Born on February 9, 1890, his birth was reported by letter to the authorities at Franklin, with his father James Clark giving the family’s address as Upper Huon.
Educated at the Battery Point State School, he found work as an apprentice in the artist’s department of the Mercury’s sister publication the weekly Tasmanian Mail.
He was also aa well-known athlete, a member of the Tasmania Amateur Athletics Association and Hobart Harriers and the winner of numerous medals and a silver watch as well as being the record holder for the high jump and sprint.
The 24-year-old named his mother Caroline as his next-of-kin, living at 41 High St, Sandy Bay, when he joined the army at Claremont in January 1915.
On his way to war he made it as far as Western Australia before being found medically unfit for further service. He was discharged on June 19, 1915 and was pointed in the direction of home.
Arriving in Victoria he had another medical examination and was now found fit for service. He re-enlisted at Seymour camp on July 1, answering “no” when asked if he had ever been rejected as unfit for service.
He finally left Australia in September 1915 and found himself in hospital with the mumps soon after arriving at Gallipoli.
Claude wrote to his mother from France on April 23, 1916: “Dear Mother I received your letter of Feb. 20, your birthday, but I’m afraid I did not even send you a postcard. It has been raining nearly all the time here. I thought Tassie was wet but this takes the cake. I have not received the birthday present you sent me. What is the matter with Bill? I have not heard from him for a long time. I received a Tas Mail Feb. 17 issue. This war goes on in the same old way, nothing new. I am in good health and am very sorry to hear that you are not, but you want to buck-up Mum think of the good times we will have when the war is over, and don’t go fretting over me I am not going to get killed or anything like that. Your loving son Claude XXX”
Claude was promoted to Lance Corporal while in Belgium in July 1916 and was wounded in action in France that same month. Sent to England to recover, he was temporarily promoted to Lance Sergeant.
On returning to France in October 1916 he was posted to the Western Front near Armentieres. He was killed in action during a German raid on an outpost line near Thilloy, France, on March 3, 1917.
Personal effects returned to his widowed mother five months later included Claude’s identity disc, letters, wallet, safety razor, belt, brush, three handkerchiefs and a pair of field glasses. Mrs Clark had moved to Risdon Rd by the time she received Claude’s service medals in 1922. Lance Corporal Claude Kenneth Clark is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneaux Memorial in France and is remembered at tree number 205 on the Soldiers’ Memorial Avenue.
DAY 4: LANCE CORPORAL VIVIAN BROOKE
Two bushfire advice alerts added to tally
TFS crews already battling 20 fires across the state are now responding to two upgraded fires, which are now at advice alert level. The latest.
Eastern Shore veterinary clinic gutted by fire
An Eastern Shore veterinary clinic has suffered ‘extensive damage’ from an early morning fire, with staff stating their ‘hearts are broken’. The latest.