CLARK, John
| Service Numbers: | 3496, 3496A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Nelanglo, New South Wales, Australia, 3 April 1871 |
| Home Town: | Greenbushes, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Sleeper hewer |
| Died: | Killed in action, Mouquet Farm, France, 3 September 1916, aged 45 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery Plot I, Row G, Grave No. 1. FAITHFUL TOILER THY WORK IS DONE BEAUTIFUL SOUL INTO GLORY GONE |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Greenbushes War Memorial, W.A., Kings Park Western Australia State War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3496, 28th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 1916: | Involvement Private, 3496, 28th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3496, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Fremantle | |
| 3 Sep 1916: | Involvement Private, 3496A, 51st Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3496A awm_unit: 51 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-09-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John Clark was over 45 years of age when he was reported missing at Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916 during very heavy fighting. Born in New South Wales he was married to Eliza, living in Greenbushes, Western Australia, and had three small children. The youngest was born only three months before he decided to enlist. John or ‘Jack’ Clark worked as a sleeper hewer and from newspaper reports was a highly regarded cricketer.
John sailed with the 28th Battalion but was transferred to the 51st Battalion in Egypt during March 1916. Sadly, his newly born daughter passed away in Bunbury, Western Australia at this time.
John’s Red Cross file gives little mention to how or when he died but it does include a map reference for where he was buried under a memorial cross at ‘57D. R27. D.3.3.’ During June 1923 the Imperial War Graves Commission discovered his remains at ‘57D. R27. C8.6’ which is only a difference of about 50 yards. His identity disc was recovered and sent to Eliza Clark early in 1924.
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