Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Father WARNECKE, Pte. Thomas McKnight, 34. 3rd Australian Pioneers. Killed in action 2nd May, 1917. Age 46.

1652 Private Clarence Warnecke was born in Perth Western Australia, during 1897. Clarence enlisted in September, 1915 and left Australia a few months before his father as an original member of the 3rd Australian Pioneers. Clarence reported sick the day after his father died, with neurasthenia, but returned to his unit 10 days later. Apart from two weeks leave in England during January of 1918, Clarence was with the 3rd Pioneers in France until the wars end, and given UK leave in November of 1918. He reported sick to hospital with influenza after only a few days in England and he died at the Croydon Hospital, in England on the 18 January 1919, at the age of 21. He was buried in the Brookwood Military Cemetery Surrey, England. Heart disease was given as the cause of death.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Died on this date – 18th January…… Clarence Warnecke was born in West Perth, Western Australia in 1897.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 18th September, 1915 as an 18 year old, single, Tentmaker from 65 Tinning Street, Brunswick, Victoria.

Private Clarence Warnecke, Service number 1652, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 6th June, 1916 with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, “A” Company & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 26th July, 1916. Private Clarence Warnecke’s father also embarked on HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 6th June, 1916 with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion as Private Thomas McKnight Warnecke, Service number 34.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.

He was written up for a Crime:  A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) from Pioneer Battalion at Larkhill, Wiltshire from midnight on 6th November, 1916 until 5 pm on 8th November, 1916. He was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeited a total of 5 days’ pay.

On 24th November, 1916 Private  Warnecke proceeded overseas to France from Pioneer Training  Battalion.

Private Thomas McKnight Warnecke, father of Private Clarence Warnecke, was killed in action in France on 2nd May, 1917.

Private  Warnecke reported sick on 3rd May, 1917 & was admitted to W. Lancs Field Ambulance with Neurasthenia (Neurasthenia was used to refer to the strange disorders that some soldiers presented after nearby shell explosions. At first, British doctors believed that the condition was related to the physical effects of explosions. However, it was later perceived as “neurasthenia,” a nervous breakdown precipitated by stress of war). He was transferred to Wessex Field Ambulance on 4th May, 1917 & transferred the same day to 57th Divisional Dressing Station. He was discharged to duty on 12th May, 1917 & rejoined his Unit in the Field on 13th May, 1917.

He was sent to Signal School at Morbicque from 15th May, 1917 & rejoined 3rd Pioneer Battalion on 6th June, 1917.

On 18th January, 1918 Private Warnecke proceeded on Leave to England & rejoined his Unit from Leave on 30th January, 1918.

Private  Warnecke reported sick on 14th June, 1918 while in France. He was admitted to 10th Australian Field Ambulance on 14th June, 1918 with NYD Pyrexia (Not yet determined Pyrexia - Fever). He was transferred the same day to 5th Casualty Clearing Station. Private Warnecke was discharged to duty on 18th June, 1918 & rejoined his unit on 19th June, 1918.

He was written up for a Crime: “Conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline in that he in the Field on 30.9.18 neglected to obey an order given by a superior officer.”  He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No, 2 by C. O. 3rd Div. Pioneers Battalion on 2nd October, 1918 in France.

Private  Warnecke was on Leave to UK from 18th November, 1918 to 2nd December, 1918. (another entry on Casualty Form – Active Service recorded he proceeded on Leave to UK on 16th November, 1918).

On 23rd November, 1918 Private Warnecke reported sick whilst on Leave in England. He was admitted to War Hospital, Croydon, England on 23rd November, 1918 with Influenza.

Mrs S. Warnecke, 46 Victoria Street, East Brunswick, Victoria, was advised by Base Records on 9th January, 1919 that No. 1652 Private C. Warnecke had been admitted to War Hospital, Croydon, England on 25th November, 1918 suffering from Influenza – seriously ill.

Private Clarence Warnecke died at 18.40 on 18th January, 1919 at The Crescent War Hospital, Croydon, England from Pericarditis. A request for a Post Mortem had been granted as “cause of death obscure. …..sister-in-law agrees”

He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England where around 360 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.

Information from the Roll of Honour provided by the late Private Clarence Warnecke’s mother:

“Father and three sons enlisted in the A.I.F. and his grandfather was in the Waterloo Battle, Grandfather was in the Crimea War as King’s Trumpeter.”

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/tu---z.html