James Henry Clarke
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 5 Aug 1906 |
| Place of Birth | Collie, Western Australia |
| Death | 10 Mar 1994, aged 87 |
| Place of Death | 77 Fourth avenue, Shoalwater, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 33 years, 10 months |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Wife , Mrs. Gladys Naomi Clarke |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | WX4636 |
| Date of Enlistment | 23 Jun 1940 |
| Rank | Warrant Officer Class 2 |
| Unit/Formation | 37/52nd Australian Infantry Battalion (Henty Regiment) |
| Military Movement | |
| 1st Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 25 Oct 1940 ‒ 25 Nov 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Bombay, India |
| Transfers | |
| Journey Dates | 10 Nov 1940 ‒ 25 Nov 1940 |
| Transport Details | HMT Rohna Bombay to Kantara, Egypt |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 24 Mar 1942 ‒ 14 Apr 1942 |
| Transport Details | SS Dorset 2 Port Tewfik to Fremantle |
| 2nd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 18 Feb 1943 ‒ 25 Feb 1943 |
| Transport Details | USAT Both Brisbane for Milne Bay |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 23 Jan 1944 ‒ 27 Jan 1944 |
| Transport Details | AHS Manunda Port Moresby to Brisbane |
| 3rd Departure from Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 7 Jul 1944 ‒ 12 Jul 1944 |
| Transport Details | HMAS Westralia Townsville to Lae, New Guinea |
| Return to Australia | |
| Journey Dates | 17 Aug 1944 ‒ 26 Aug 1945 |
| Transport Details | SS Frank Harris Madang to Brisbane |
| Post War Details | |
| Fate | Returned to Australia x 3 |
| Medals |
1939-45 Star Africa Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45 |
Pre War
James married Gladys Naomi Poett during 1942. Gladys died on 21 Dec 1987.
War Service
James early records are missing but he is known to have enlisted on 23 Jun 1940 and was posted to the 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion who did their early training at Northam Camp.
Following embarkation leave from 27 Sep 1940 until 4 Oct 1940, on 25 Oct 1940 James embarked on HMT Queen Mary with the 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion in Fremantle for Bombay in India, where he disembarked on 7 Nov 1940. The battalion spent several days in Indian camps until they boarded HMT Rohna (K 36) on 10 Nov 1940 for Kantara, Egypt where they disembarked in the afternoon of 25 Nov 1940.
Promoted Acting Corporal on 31 Jul 1941, this rank was confirmed on 25 Oct 1941. On 8 Jan 1942 he was admitted with Venereal Disease to 14th Australian Specialist Hospital until 26 Jan 1942 when he was transferred to the 8th Australian Specialist Hospital who released him on 8 Feb 1942 to the 7th Australian Infantry Training brigade Retraining Company after 32 days ineffective service. As a result he was to travel home almost 3 months after his battalion. On 25 Mar 1942 he embarked on the SS Dorset 2, disembarking in Fremantle on 14 Apr 1942 and was then AWOL until 17 Apr 1942.
On 21 May 1942 he was returned to the 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion where on 23 Jun 1942 he was promoted Sergeant and two days later posted to the 37th Australian Infantry Battalion. On 2 Nov 1942 he was detached to the 4th Australian Field Regiment until 10 Nov 1942 and on his return to the 37th Battalion he was granted home leave from 24 Nov 1942 before returning to the battalion in Queensland on 2 Jan 1943. From 20 Jan 1943 until 12 Feb 1943 he attended a course at Redbank and on 18 Feb 1943 he embarked on the USAT Both in Brisbane for Milne Bay in New Guinea, disembarking on 25 Feb 1943. However on 7 Mar 1943 he was admitted to the 10th Australian Casualty Clearing Station for treatment for a Hordeolum infection to his right eyelid. On 10 Mar 1943 he was released to a holding unit to be returned to Australia, but later the same day he rejoined the 37/52nd Australian Infantry Battalion (Henty Regiment).
From 31 Mar 1943 until 9 Apr 1943 he was detached to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance and on 25 May 1943 he was promoted Acting Warrant Officer Class 2. James was evacuated on 26 Dec 1943 to the 2/8th Australian Field Ambulance before being transferred the next day to the 2/2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station who in turn passed him to the 2/5th Australian General Hospital on 28 Dec 1943. On 31 Dec 1943 he was diagnosed by them as being seriously ill with 'Scrub Typhus'. On 7 Jan 1944 he was well enough to be removed from the seriously ill list and on 23 Jan 1944 he was transferred to AHS Manunda for Brisbane where on 27 Jan 1944 he was placed on an Ambulance Train for the 115th Australian General Hospital where he was admitted on 29 Jan 1944. On 12 Feb 1944 he was again placed on an Ambulance Train, this time for 110th Australian Base Hospital in Perth where he was admitted on 16 Feb 1944. His journey not yet over, he was transferred to the 118th Australian General Hospital at Northam on 3 Mar 1944, and then on 14 Mar 1944 to the Faversham Convalescent Home. Finally on 28 Mar 1944 he was well enough to be released to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. His troubles not yet over, on 5 May 1944 he was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital with malaria, and on 12 May he was shifted to the 118th Australian General Hospital.
A week later on 19 May he was again with the General Details Depot until he transferred to the Queensland Line of Communication Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 16 Jun 1944. On 7 Jul 1944 in Townsville James boarded HMAS Westralia for Lae, New Guinea, where he disembarked on 12 Jul 1944 and on 1 Aug 1944 rejoined his battalion. However, his stay was brief, as on 17 Aug 1944 he embarked in Madang on the SS Frank Harris for Brisbane, disembarking there on 26 Aug 1944.
On 12 Nov 1944 James's rank of WO2 was confirmed, and on 30 Nov he was sent on a course at the First Australian Army Regimental Training School for RSM and CSMs from 11 Dec 1944 until 15 Jan 1945. On 24 Jan 1945 he was again with his battalion and on 19 Feb 1945 they embarked in Brisbane on the HMT Katoomba for Jacquinot Bay on the south coast New Britain, disembarking there on 24 Feb 1945. With the war over, on 22 Aug 1945 James was transferred to WA for discharge. He emplaned at Port Moresby on 28 Aug 1945 for Cairns where they arrived the same day.
On 8 Oct 1945 James was transferred to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot to undergo discharge on 13 Oct 1945.
Post War
Electoral Roll entries: 1954 Yougenup, Gnowangerup, baker; 1958 at 32 Milton street, Mt Hawthorn, baker; 1963 McPherson street, Carnamah, baker; 1968 at 164 Alfred road, Mt Claremont, baker; 1977 - 1980 at Unit 15, 19 Hefron street, Rockingham Wife Gladys died 21 Dec 1987.
Notes