Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clifford Matthew Lark was born on May 14, 1900(1), in Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia, to parents Harriet Sybella and Henry John Lark(2). He was one of 4 brothers and had a sister however she passed away shortly after birth(3). Lark attended Sydney Technical High School from 1914 to 1918(4), where he was recognized for his academic achievements and disciplined nature. Before the war, he worked as a clerk(5), residing in Hurstville and Kogarah, NSW.

Clifford Matthew Lark enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on June 26th, 1918, at 18(6). with the service number 60480. He embarked from New South Wales on the HMAT A41 BAKARA to the UK on September 4(7), 1918, joining the 16th to 27th reinforcements. He then went on to do his military training on the Salisbury plains(8). He was attached to the 1st Australian Base Depot but did not see any fighting. He was sent to France after the war in January 1919, presumably to assist with the clean-ip

Clifford Lark returned to Australia on 6 September 1919. He lived a productive life post-war. In 1923 he married Grace Amelia Emily Redwood and they had two daughters, Rhoda and Aileen. However, a tragic event in 1925 claimed the lives of his twin daughters shortly after their birth, followed by his wife in December of the same year. Lark remarried to Mary Ann May White on 3 March 1928 and they had four children: Francis William Lark, Patricia Ellen Ann Lark and John Henry Lark. Lark also served his country after the war, he found work as a deputy inspector of the Mumbulla Shire Fire District and later as a fire officer(11).

Clifford Matthew Lark lived a long life. He died on 30 December 1990, aged 90, in Arncliffe, New South Wales(12). Lark’s dedication and service are commemorated in the First World War Roll of Honour at Sydney Technical High School.

References:

Robert Devlin, Clifford Matthew Lark, Research on Google Drive, 2017

Clifford Matthew LARK, https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=170741 - The AIF Project 2024

Clifford Matthew LARK, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/156723

Clifford Matthew Lark, https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=7377344&isAv=N, 2015

Clifford Matthew Lark https://www.awm.gov.au/research/guide/ww1-steps - 7 January 2021

https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/schools/resources/research-a-soldier - 18 March 2020

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1226

Jacaranda Retroactive 2 Stage 5 NSW Australian Curriculum - 12 April 1918, unknown Australian photographer

1) https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/156723

2) Google drive research

3) Google drive research

4) Google drive final grades

5) Google drive research

6) https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=170741

7) https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/156723

8) https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/246

9) Google drive research

10) https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1226

11) Google drive research

12) Google drive research

Clifford Mathew Lark was born in Hurstville, Sydney, Australia on the 14th May 1900 (1). His parents who followed the Church of England, Harriet Sybella and John Henry Lark gave birth to 5 children where Clifford was the oldest (2). Clifford’s first brother, Ronald Lindsay Lark was born on the 14th June 1902, followed by Maud Elizabeth Lark, who unfortunately passed away a few days after birth, Clifford Mathew’s second brother Bruce Kenneth Lark born on 7th June 1910 followed by Athol Dare Lark 22 March 1913 and Douglas Ray Lark 13th July 1914.

The Lark family mostly resided around Hurstville and Kograh with Clifford’s first recorded residence at Earlwood, Parkes (3). Lark attended Technical High School through 1914-1918, Lark was a dedicated student with his strongest subjects being drawing and mechanics, excelling in these categories above his other subjects. Before his service in war, Lark was employed as a clerk. Lark attended STHS until year 11 before enlisting into the Australian Imperial Force (4).

Clifford Mathew Lark’s service to the nation was merited with the British War Medal for the eventful year of service of post-war cleanup in the A.I.F. Lark enlisted to the army on the 26 June 1918 and was later approved with a certificate of commanding officer 43 days later (5) and boarded the naval ship HMAT A41 Bakara on the 4th September headed for the UK where Lark would join the 16th to 27th reinforcements where he would undergo military training at the Salisbury Plain Training Area (SPTA) (6) which is the largest UK training area surrounded by four major military bases, through this training, Lark would attain a private rank for the A.I.F infantry. In 1919, Lark transferred to France to aid with the patrolling forces . Even though Lark did not serve in a theatre of war, his commitments will be forever commemorated within the honor roll in the STHS auditorium.

Clifford Mathew Lark returned to Australia on the 6th September 1919 (7) where he would meet his first wife Grace Amelia Emily Redwood and later marry in 1923 (8). Two years later, Lark would have two children: Rhoda and Aileen Lark which unfortunately he would lose, along with his wife in a devastating accident (9). Lark would not let these losses permanently demoralise him and would become a fire control officer and be a first responder to a triple homicide in 1926 where a husband murdered his family and set the house ablaze, Lark who was the officer on scene discovered the body of the husband and contributed to the extinguishing of the flame (10). Lark would remarry Mary Ann May White on the 3 March 1928 and have three children; Francis William Lark, Patricia Ellen Ann Lark  and John Henry Lark (11). Lark would continue to protect the city as a fire officer of Mumbulla Shire Fire until his retirement in 1958. Lark would find his final resting place on the 30 Dec 1990 and would be buried in Woronora Memorial Park.

ENDNOTES

1) LARK. Clifford Mathew.docx

2) C.M Lark family information

3) LARK. Clifford Mathew.docx

4) National Archives of Australia 

5) Ibid

6) VWMA soldier biographies 

7) LARK. Clifford Mathew.docx

8) VWMA soldier biographies - National Archives of Australia 

9) Ibid

10) “HUSBAND'S CRIME -KILLED FAMILY IN FIT OF INSANITY - CRONULLA VERDICT- STORIES QF CRUELTY TO LOVING WIFE” -The sun Thursday 22 July 1926 “. Google drive research 

11) VWMA soldier biographies