Kenneth Arthur CLARK DCM

CLARK, Kenneth Arthur

Service Number: 1887
Enlisted: 24 January 1916, Goulburn, New South Wales
Last Rank: Sergeant
Last Unit: 55th Infantry Battalion
Born: Weetangera, Australian Capital Territory, 29 December 1894
Home Town: Weetangera, Australian Capital Territory
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Memorials:
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World War 1 Service

24 Jan 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1887, 55th Infantry Battalion, Goulburn, New South Wales
23 Jun 1916: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1887, 55th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Barambah embarkation_ship_number: A37 public_note: ''
23 Jun 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1887, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Barambah, Sydney
17 Nov 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1887, 55th Infantry Battalion

KENNETH ARTHUR CLARK - DCM

ENNETH H ARTHUR CLARK (1895- ) born at Weetangera, son of Thomas Kennedy and Ellen Agnes Clark nee Maher. Arthur enlisted at Weetangera, as Private 1887, 55th Battalion. Sargeant Clark He may have enlisted as part of the Men from Snowy River route march in January 1916. He served with the from June 24th, 1916 onwards when he was appointed to the 47th Battalion at Goulburn and transferred to the 55th Battalion on April 30th. He proceeded directly France on June 23rd, 1916 on the SHMAT A37 Barambah after some training. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on June 21st, 1917 and Sergeant in June 1918. He served at Guedecourt, Doignies, Bullecourt, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Villers-Bretonneux, Morlancourt, Peronne and Bellicourt. In 1919 he attended a shearing course at the Wolseley Sheep Shearing Co. in Birmingham before returning home on the HMAT Ceramic on August 9th, 1919 and being discharged in Sydney on 17 November 1919. He received the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack on the Hindenburg Line north of Bellicourt (in France) on 30th September 1918. The award was proclaimed in the London Gazette of December 2nd, 1919 For marked courage and dash during an attack on the Hindenburg Line, north of Bellicourt, on 30th September, 1918. When the officers of his company had either been killed or wounded, he took charge and led the company forward in the face of a heavy machine0gun nests, killing the crews. By his initiative and total disregard for personal danger he set a splendid example to his men. After the officers of his company had either been killed or wounded Clark took charge, successfully attacking enemy machine gun nests holding up flanking troops. He served three years and 103 days overseas.
When the Armistice was declared a student at Weetangera recalled that Mrs. Clark came out of her house, crying with joy that her son, Arthur, would be returning home safely. He returned to Australia in October 1919 where he was welcomed home at Hall. His name is recorded at the Hall Memorial Grove, and the Weetangerra Honor Roll, St John's Schoolhouse Museum, Reid.. He also received the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. [DAVIS OF GOUNYAN - ROLL OF HONOUR - BM Pittman]
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