Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sydney Norman Clarke (1899 – 1957)

Born at Wattle Flat, South Australia in 1899, Syd was the youngest of 11 children born to James Andrew Clarke and Ada Walker Clarke, (nee Berry). His mother Ada, died suddenly when Syd was aged 4, and his father, James later remarried, and Syd went on to have an additional 9 half-siblings.

Growing up on a farm he and his siblings were well acquainted with firearms and excellent horse riders. By the outbreak of war in 1914, Syd by now aged 16, was a member of the Senior Cadets. His eldest brother James, having already served in the Boer War, two more of his brothers enlisted shortly after war with Germany was declared, - his brother Francis (Frank) in October 1914, and Arthur in February 1915.

Unfortunately his brother Frank was killed at Lone Pine in Gallipoli, October 1915 and his other brother Arthur, was to die 9 months later at the Battle of Pozieres in France, July 1916.

Losing two of his older brothers, Syd was eager to enlist. Although he had turned 18 and was now eligible to join the military, being under 21, he still required his father’s written permission. Having already, and so recently lost two of his sons, his father understandably refused to provide it.

Syd bided his time for another few months, but shortly after turning 19 in January 1917, he went ahead and enlisted at Strathalbyn, a country town some distance away. Here he added another 3 years to his age, declaring he was 22 years old rather than 19. In his enlistment papers, he’s described as 5ft 10in (178cm), 11 stone 11 lbs (75kg) with blue eyes, fair hair and a fair complexion.

Shortly after enlisting, he wrote to his father from the Mitcham Camp in Adelaide, informing him of what he’d done, and explaining that he wouldn’t be getting enough leave time to travel back to Wattle Flat to say goodbye, as they were to ship out in a few weeks.

After receiving his letter, his father and another brother, hurriedly set out to make the lengthy journey into Adelaide, hoping to dissuade him. However Syd was determined and his father sadly relented. His father and family stayed in Adelaide to farewell him a week or two later when he embarked on the “Moorea” on 22nd Feb. as a member of “B” Company, in the 26th Reinforcement of the 9th Light Horse Regiment.

The Moorea sailed to Bombay and while there on leave, Syd and some friends visited the Bombay Zoo. There, he recounted later, having the largest snake any of them had ever witnessed (possibly a python of some sort) slip up behind him.  Spotting it over his shoulder and near his face, and speechless with shock, he’s purported to have leapt an incredible distance from a stationary, standing position, - with all his mates close behind him.

From Bombay they sailed to the Suez in Egypt, arriving in April 1917.

The 9th Light Horse Regiment were involved in several battles while Syd was serving. In October-November 1917, they were involved in the Battles of Beersheba and the third Battle of Gaza. In April- May, the following year, at a village called Es Salt, near Amman, and later in September at the ancient fortress of Megiddo. Late in 1918, Syd was admitted to hospital dangerously ill, with a temperature of 104 degrees (40 c), and where he was diagnosed with malignant malaria. Malaria would be an affliction that would plague him for the rest of his life.

He also received a bullet in the thigh when his horse had been shot from beneath him, (later he always had a horse on his farm named “Cyclops” after one of his favourite horses, - maybe this one?). Later the men realized they had been issued with new billy cans, and the reflecting metal had most likely made them all excellent targets for snipers.

Syd seldom spoke about the war, but he did recount travelling miles and miles through heavy, sandy desert and over stony hills, so steep and rocky that they often had to dismount and lead their horses. He spoke of himself and his mates all crossing and swimming in the River Jordan.

By Nov 1918 the war had officially ended. However as the Australian troops were getting ready to return to Australia an anti-British uprising in Egypt in March 1919 meant they were redeployed to help quell it. Finally leaving Egypt on the “Oxfordshire” in July they arrived back in Adelaide on the 10th August 1919.

 Upon arriving back his cousin May Clarke later wrote –

 “After the sad loss of his two older brothers, the family prayed for Sid’s safe return. Finally our prayers were answered, Sid did return and we gave him a wonderful welcome home, everyone travelled for miles to be there.”

His 10 year old niece, Florrie Clarke also from Wattle Flat, wrote to “Remus” from “The Letterbox” (a section in the Daily Herald newspaper for children to write into) in September, saying how happy everyone was that her Uncle was safely home, after losing two of his brothers.  

After returning to civilian life, Syd worked as a labourer and while working in Alawoona, South Australia met his future wife, 18 year old Annie Blum. They married in January, 1924 and later that year he was granted land under the Soldier Settlement Scheme at Wattle Flat. He kept this land for several years but then sold it, and moved to a larger holding in the same area, and was largely a sheep farmer. He and Annie went on to have 10 children of their own and lived in Wattle Flat all their married life. He also later utilized his military experience by joining the Volunteer Defence Corps in April 1942, serving in it till the end of WW2.

Syd died at home on his farm “Fern Grove”, at Wattle Flat on October 25, 1957. He had died of cancer, aged 59, and is buried in the Anglican Church of Christ Cemetery in Yankalilla, South Australia, alongside his wife Annie.

Compiled by Karen Park (nee Clarke), from individual family and military sources.