CLARKE, Percy
| Service Number: | 3063 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 2 April 1895 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Broken Hill Public School |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Pozières, France, 4 August 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Courcelette British Cemetery Plot IV, Row C, Grave 16 (Reinterred there from 4 miles NE of Albert) |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3063, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3063, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Medic embarkation_ship_number: A7 public_note: '' | |
| 12 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3063, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Medic, Adelaide | |
| 4 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3063, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Percy Clarke was born in Adelaide on the 2nd of April 1895. Clarke lived with his mother, Mrs. Y. Lorrence Clarke (whom he listed as his next of kin on his enlistment forms), at 282 Franklin Street, Adelaide. Percy attended Broken Hill Public School. He was a blacksmith by occupation and as stated in his description upon enlistment, he had blue eyes, brown hair, and was 5 ft 6.
With no previous military service on his record, he enlisted as an A.I.F. Private in Adelaide on the 4th of August 1915, aged 20 years old. He embarked from Adelaide on the 12th of January 1916 on board the HMAT Medic.
His service number was 3063, he was appointed to the 27th Battalion where he was sent to Egypt to continue training, he undertook little training in Adelaide. On the 7th of April 1916, the 27th Battalion was deployed to the front line for the first time as the Australians took over a quiet sector near Armentières. On 8 July 1916, the 7th Brigade was ordered to march to the Somme to support the Australian 1st Division which was taking part in the fighting around Pozières. On the 4th of August 1916, the 27th Battalion was on the left flank of the 2nd Division attack aimed at assaulting the ruins of the windmill of Pozieres, which had the dominant view of the surrounding area. The 27th Battalion with the help of their position captured the windmill. Percy Clarke died on the 4th of August 1916 during the capture of the ruins of the windmill of Poziere. At first, he was reported as missing but was later confirmed as dead. Clarke's body was retrieved from the battlefield and he was buried at the Courcelette British Cemetery, France, located in Plot IV, Row C, Grave 16.
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