Clive Vallack SINGLE DSO, MID*

SINGLE, Clive Vallack

Service Number: OFFICER
Enlisted: 15 January 1915
Last Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Last Unit: 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance
Born: Burwood, New South Wales, Australia, 17 September 1888
Home Town: Mudgee, Mid-Western Regional, New South Wales
Schooling: Mudgee Grammar School and the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Medical Practitioner
Died: Natural causes, Woollahra, New South Wales, Australia, 10 July 1931, aged 42 years
Cemetery: Waverley Cemetery, Bronte, New South Wales
Memorials: Gulgong and Mudgee District Roll of Honor
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World War 1 Service

15 Jan 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, OFFICER, Army Medical Corps (AIF)
11 Feb 1915: Involvement Captain, Medical Officers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: ''
11 Feb 1915: Embarked Captain, Medical Officers, HMAT Seang Bee, Sydney
28 Sep 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
25 Oct 1915: Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance
21 Feb 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Captain, 12th Light Horse Regiment
1 Dec 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Major
4 Mar 1917: Transferred AIF WW1, Major, 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance
11 Mar 1918: Transferred AIF WW1, Major, 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance
30 Mar 1918: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance
14 Jun 1918: Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations
3 Jun 1919: Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations, For meritorious service and devotion to duty on 26 September 1918 at Semakh prior to dawn, when under heavy machine gun fire whilst attending to the wounded, in dealing with several severe cases that lives were saved. Although working under most disadvantageous conditions with only the mobile section of his Field Ambulance, he dealth with 876 patients and 104 POWs between 18 September and 1 November 1918 although seriously ill with malignant malaria.
5 Jun 1919: Honoured Mention in Dispatches, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations
22 Jul 1919: Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance, HT Morvada, Egypt for return to Australia as Medical Officer - disembarking Sydney 28 August 1919
27 Nov 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance
Date unknown: Involvement Captain, 1st Australian General Hospital, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: '' embarkation_ship: '' embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
Date unknown: Embarked Captain, 1st Australian General Hospital

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Biography contributed by Michael Silver

Dr. Clive Vallack Single died at his residence, 'Lanark', Trelawney Street, Woollahra, on July 10, 1931 after a short illness. He was 42 years of age, and was one of the six sons and two daughters of Henry Ernest Single (1855-1930), and Mary Judith Single, née Vallack (1858-1937) of "Wandoona", Wollar, near Mudgee.

After receiving his early education at the Mudgee Grammar School, Dr. Single went to Sydney University, and graduated in 1913. He took a prominent part in sport at the University, winning his blue for cricket and playing two first class matches for New South Wales against Western Australia in November 1912.

He went to the war as a doctor, and in the Palestine campaign was in charge of the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the A.A.M.C., and was awarded the D.S.O.

When hostilities ceased Dr. Single, on his return to Sydney, went to Moree to practice. In 1922 he took Dr. R. J. Hunter into partnership, to whom he disposed of the practice in 1926.

Leaving Moree, he and his wife and family went to England and Europe, travelling on the same ship as the 1926 Australian cricket team and on returning to Australia again settled in Woolahra and took up practice in Macquarie Street, Sydney.

The late Dr. Single was universally respected throughout the whole of the Moree district, his genial disposition and sunny smile endearing him to every member or the community. During his residence in Moree Dr. Single, who was looked upon as one of the best slip fielders in New South Wales, took a great interest in cricket, and it was largely due to his influence that cricket in Moree, which had slumped considerably during the war period regained its prestige.

He also took a great interest in all movements for the progress of the town, and was a trustee of the Moree Memorial Hall and a member of Lodge Courallie. The establishment of the Baby Clinic in Moree was also largely due to his and Mrs. Single's efforts, the latter donating £100 to the funds. As a medical man, the late doctor as probably one of the most successful practitioners in the North-West, and later when he took up practice in Macquarie Street he kept in touch with numerous Moree patients whom he treated in a private hospital.

He married Miss Varania 'Rania' McPhillamy OBE MBE [1889-1961], daughter of Mr. Charles S. McPhillamy, of Warroo station, near Forbes in June 1920 whom he met on the troopship 'Morvada' returning to Australia in 1919. She was a member of the Voluntary Aid Detachment, and played a prominent role as superintendent of soldiers' canteens in Egypt during the war. She was made an MBE in 1918 and an OBE in 1920 in recognition of her service to the troops. They had four children, one son and three daughters.

References:

Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 11 July 1931, page 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16792509

Moree Gwydir Examiner and General Advertiser (NSW : 1901 - 1940), Monday 13 July 1931, page 2 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111698645

Australian Dictionary of Biography https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/mcphillamy-verania-7441

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