Arthur Clarke

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Bendigo, Victoria
Death	24 Feb 1925
Place of Death	York, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	41 years, 3 months
Description	5'5" (1.65m) tall; weight 153 lbs (69.4kg); fresh complexion, blue eyes, brown to grey hair.
Occupation	hotel keeper
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Millbrook Hotel, Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Mary Teresa Clarke
Military Information
Reg Number	2548B
Date of Enlistment	21 Aug 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	43rd Battalion, 5th Reinforcement transferred to 12th Battalion / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	9 Nov 1916 - 10 Jan 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Date of Return	19 Oct 1917
Ship Returned On	SS Port Lyttleton
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

On 23 Feb 1903 Arthur married Mary Burke in Geraldton, both living at the time in Field's Find, with Arthur a miner.

Arthur was a member of the Cue Municipal Council in 1909.

Electoral Roll entries - 1911 - 1914 Railway hotel, Darlot street, Cue; 1916 Millbrook hotel, Jarrahdale.

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  Millbrook Hotel Jarrahdale

War Service

A month after entering camp, Arthur was allocated to the 7th reinforcement draft for the 48th Battalion, but a week later this changed to the 5th draft for the 43rd Battalion, and he travelled with them to England.

On arrival in England he was posted to the 11th Training Battalion at Durington where he carried out war preparedness training until he proceeded overseas to France from Southampton on 22 May 1917.

After spending time with the 1st Division Base Depot in Le Havre, he was taken on strength of the 12th Battalion on 15 Jun 1917 where his regimental Number had a 'B' added, implying that there was another digger already in the battalion with the same regimental number.

Admitted to hospital on 6 Jul 1917 after collapsing on a route march near Ribemont 23rd June. In theatre only 22 days! Reoccurrence of rheumatic fever suffered before enlistment.

Sent home for discharge as unfit. Discharged 5th Military District 28 Dec 1917.

Post War

17 Jan 1920 at the Pinjarra hotel having recently been at the Boyanup Hotel. Electoral Roll entries - 1921 Cecil Hotel, Cannington; 1922 - 1925 Palace hotel, York.

Notes

Obituary (part)

After an illness over many months the death of Mr. Arthur Clarke, of the Palace Hotel, occurred on Tuesday morning. The deceased, who was 50 years of age, was not an old resident of our town, but during his business career had won many friends, and was generally esteemed. He was attacked with lung trouble and for some three months was treated at a private hospital at the City. It would appear that the disease gradually made further inroads upon his constitution, and despite all that mortal hand could do the end came at about 10:30 on Tuesday morning in the presence of his widow and family of two sons and two daughters. The deceased, who for many years resided in the northern goldfields and at Cannington, was a returned soldier, and out of respect to his memory the flag was flown half mast at the Town Hall until the conclusion of the burial obsequies.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Memorial