CLERKE, John Sydenham Duer
| Service Number: | NX60095 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 July 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 8th Division Signals |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales Australia , 2 February 1910 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Electrical engineer |
| Died: | Kurrajong, New South Wales, Australia , 1981, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 29 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, NX60095, 8th Division Signals | |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 1942: | Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, Burma Railway Changi | |
| 5 Feb 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lance Corporal, NX60095, 8th Division Signals |
Family background
Descended from Seward Large CLERKE who immigrated age 16 to NSW from Ireland in 1840’s to stay with uncle. Was orphaned and fostered in Ireland after mother died 6 weeks after birth and father died about a year after that. Two brothers immigrated as well but apparently were killed later in North Queensland.
Submitted 27 October 2023 by Catherine Clerke
Biography contributed by Catherine Clerke
According to a diary of a fellow POW in a Burma Railway Camp, Sid Clerke was on cook duty. They made a Christmas Day meal of a ball of rice etc that was appreciated and remembered.
Sid Clerke lost his young daughter to diptheria and his father and likely did not know this until returned to Australia.
Sid Clerke disembarked at Woolomaloo Finger Wharves.
His family did not recognise him due to skeletal appearance.
Sid never spoke about his experience's.