Herbert Thomas Claude Clarke

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 11/09/2017 - 13:33

First Name:

Herbert

Middle Name:

Thomas Claude

Last Name:

Clarke

Mother's Name:

Theresa Clarke nee Plunkett

Father's Name:

George Clarke

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, March 20, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

20th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Tuesday, October 21, 1952

Place of Death:

Concord Hospital, NSW

Details:

Herbert Clarke (Service No 831) was born in Woonona, NSW in 1885.

At enlistment Herbert was single, 29 years old, worked as a miner and lived at Bulli, NSW.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A35 Berrima with 20th Battalion, C Company on 25th June 1915 and after arriving in Egypt was sent to Gallipoli on 16th August 1915. His active service ended on 3rd September 1915 when he was wounded in action and evacuated back to Egypt for treatment of a gun shot wound to his head. He was in hospital for 3 weeks before being returned to service. Herbert then developed malaria & was sent to England for treatment. Subsequently, Herbert was found to be unfit to carry out military duties and he was sent back to Australia in July 1916.

During the journey home Herbert was charged with assaulting an officer and other offences but a Court Martial deemed him mentally unfit to be tried.

Herbert was discharged medically unfit, suffering from neurasthenia on 9th September 1919, and was awarded a pension.

He died in Concord Hospital in 1952 and is buried in Northern Suburbs Cemetery.

Herbert's service is commemorated on the Bulli-Woonona War Memorial.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, CLARKE H T C