Leslie George Clarke

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Fri, 17/11/2017 - 11:46

First Name:

Leslie

Middle Name:

George

Last Name:

Clarke

Date of Birth:

Monday, January 4, 1886

Mother's Name:

Louisa Clarke nee Brown

Father's Name:

William Clarke

Date Enlisted:

Monday, November 29, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

1st Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

Leslie Clarke (Service No 5988) was born in Bulli, N.S.W. In 1905 he married Florence Salisbury.

Leslie enlisted when the Waratah March visited Nowra, N.S.W. At the time he was 29 years old, worked as a miner, and he and Florence had 3 children.

Leslie embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire with 1st Battalion, 19th Reinforcement on 22nd August 1916, some months later than most of the Waratah Men.

He arrived in England on 13th October 1916 and joined 1st Battalion in the field on 18th December 1916. Leslie saw service on the Western Front. On 24th May 1917 he was admitted to hospital suffering from myopia and this began a series of hospital admissions for various illnesses.

He was finally returned to Australia in July 1919, but not discharged until 11th October 1920, status medically unfit.

He and Florence divorced after 20 years, in May 1925 and he was living in Melbourne in 1930.

Leslie's service is commemorated on the Woonona Public School Roll of Honor.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CLARKE L G