CLARKE, Phillip Robert
| Service Number: | 488 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 July 1915, An original member of B Company 29th Bn. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Prahran, Victoria, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Richmond (V), Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Died: | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 April 1958, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Fawkner Memorial Park Cemetery, Victoria Plot Presbyterian D, Grave 5332 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 488, 29th Infantry Battalion, An original member of B Company 29th Bn. | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 488, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 488, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 9 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 488, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Phillip Robert Clarke was the 18 year old son of Alice Clark of Richmond, Victoria, when he enlisted in 1915. His mother was a widow and she lost two sons during the war so would have been very pleased to get Phillip back to Australia.
Phillip’s oldest brother, 3791 Pte. William Bernard Clarke 21st Battalion AIF, was killed in action at Mouquet Farm, France on 24 August 1916, aged 24.
The second oldest son, 5068 Pte. Thomas Osmund Clarke 46th Battalion AIF, died of wounds in France on 13 February 1917, aged 22.
Phillip was an original member of the 29th Battalion and fought at Fromelles in July 1916 with the unit. He was sent to hospital in France with trench feet during November 1916, a freezing cold winter, and was sent England to recover. It was late October 1917 before he joined the 29th Battalion at the front again. On the 12 October 1918, the 29th Battalion was disbanded and Clarke was sent to the 32nd Battalion. He went missing after the Armistice, on 20 November 1918, and remained so for almost four months. He had to face a court martial and was sentenced to 30 days detention and was fined 236 days pay. He returned to Australia during August 1919.