Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Cyril Lowther Clarke was born on the 6th August   1884 in York, England.  He was the son of the Reverend Henry Lowther Clarke.  His early school days were in Oxford, England and later at Bedford Grammar School. He moved to Australia at 18 years of age when his father was appointed the Archbishop of Melbourne in 1903. He attended Trinity College and the University of Melbourne, and graduated from medicine and surgery with honours in 1908.  Later he practised in Kalgoorlie, WA.  He settled in Peterborough, SA in April 1911 and was known as a sound practitioner, and a person of considerable ability and energy.  He was appointed as the Medical Officer of Health for the Corporation of Peterborough. He married Constance Anderson eldest daughter of the Bishop of Riverina on 14th February 1912 at Hay, New South Wales. His father performed the ceremony.

Clarke joined the Australian AAMC as a captain in November 1911.  He was employed at 4 MD. He enlisted in the AIF in early 1916.  He was commissioned as a Major on 1st August 1916.  He was 32 years old, 5 ft. 9 ½ ins. tall, He had a fresh complexion and brown eyes and brown hair.  His wife was named as his next of kin care of his father Archbishop of Melbourne, Bishops Court, Melbourne, Victoria. He embarked from Melbourne on the Karoola on the 19th August 1916 and he was attached to 14 AGH in Egypt. Clarke was diagnosed with malaria during 1918 and had two relapses but he returned to duty by June 1919. He was transferred to Command the 5th LH FdAmb on the 13th January 1919. He was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on the 7th March 1919. Clarke had a glowing recommendation from Brigadier General Ryrie, and for a time served as ADMS with the Australian Mounted Division.  He returned to Australia on the Burma on the 26th July 1919 with his appointment terminated on the 8th November 1919. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Clarke resumed his practice in Peterborough after his return to Australia.  Also returning to the town was Dr Arthur Goode whose AIF appointment was terminated one month after Clarke. He was elected Chairman of Finance of the Municipal Council in 1920. In December 1921 he was elected Mayor of Peterborough and was considered a wise and capable administrator.  He was also the President of the local branch of the Returned and Soldiers League. Cyril Lowther Clarke was killed in a vehicle accident on the 23rd September 1922, when returning from the races. There were four other young people in the car and a young boy of 13 years was also fatally injured.   He was survived by his pregnant wife, Constance, and two sons aged 9 years and 21 months. Within weeks of his death Constance delivered a daughter.