Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clarence William Greet was born on the 31st of May 1897 to William John and Harriet Greet in Kensington, South Australia. He had two documented siblings: Myrtle, who died at only a year old; and younger brother, Roy Stanley Cooper born two years on from his sister’s death, in September 1907. When he was just 12 years old, Greets’s mother Harriet unfortunately passed, causing him to suffer from two tragic losses in his young life. In his youth, Greet attended Norwood Public School before working as a fruit classer and farm hand. He moved from his hometown of Adelaide to Victoria, residing in Glenferrie, Hawthorne before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in April 1916. 

Greet initially enlisted with the 3rd Divisionary Cyclist Company on the 19th of April with his age documented as 21 years and 3 months, despite being 18 years and 10 months at this time. In 1916 minimum enlistment age was 21, but 18 with parental permission: so, a feasible explanation for this incorrect birthdate is that he did not gain his Father’s approval. Greet was described as 5’4, with hazel eyes, dark brown hair, and religious denomination listed as a follower of the Church of England. His service number was 176, and he was a private, remaining this status throughout service. 

On the 18th of May 1916 Greet departed Sydney on the HMAT Demosthenes A64 bound for England. On board the ship he was deprived of 28 day’s pay for offenses at sea: breaking away from quarters on the 23rd of June. This was only the start of his documented offenses while enlisted with the AIF. 

In July 1916 Greet arrived at Park House Chiseldon; a training base in the English countryside that was established for most of the First World War. In September he served with the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion for a month. Greet was reported missing for 8 days during this service after having been warned for a draft in late September. He was rewarded for this wrongdoing with 14 days of detention and deprival of 28 days’ pay.

On the 11th of October, Greet embarked on his journey to the frontlines, arriving in Étaples, a port in Northern France. He joined his unit, the 60th Australian Infantry Battalion two days later. It was only two weeks after joining his unit he was taken to hospital after falling ill on the field. Fortunately, he was able to re-join his Battalion the next day. Three days later, he committed a crime: hesitating to obey a field lawful command, losing 14 days’ pay as a result.

Greet, like many soldiers on the battlefield, contracted trench foot, initially admitted to hospital in France on the 30th of November. He was required to be transferred to a casualty clearing station, embarking back to England from Calais on the same day. In England, he was admitted to Military Hospital Colchester and then to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital Dartford two days later. A letter was sent to Greets’s father, William John Greet in Adelaide, on the 8th of January 1917, notifying him of his son’s change of address due to hospitalisation. He was released from the hospital on March 14, granted leave, and required to report to Perham Downs, an Australian Command Depot charged with training soldiers after dismissal from the hospital before they proceeded onto France. 

Greet arrived in Perham Downs on the 12 of April, before proceeding onto Hurdcott, another camp and command depot of the Australian Imperial Force responsible for recuperating previously sick or wounded soldiers. In June, Greet returned to the Perham Downs camp. In July, Greet was reported Absent Without Leave from Perham Downs, forfeiting 5 days’ pay. While Greet was recovering in these camps his battalion remained overseas fighting in the Second Battle of Bullecourt and the First Battle for Passchendaele, significant battles of the First World War. 

On the 28th of November 1917, Greet was deemed fit to proceed to France with the Southampton Training Brigade, arriving at the 5th Australian Division Depot in the portside community of Havre in France a day later. On the 3rd of January 1918, Greet was placed on trial for an unknown reason, adding to his accumulating list of offenses. He was however moved onto his unit a week later. 

Greet re-joined the 60th Battalion on the 9th of January, although this force was short-lived as he was admitted to hospital 9 days later, after falling ill on the field. He remained in the 15th A.F.A. hospital for 70 days before discharge. Greet reported to the Australian Infantry Base Depot in Havre after dismissal to regain strength, before being marched out to his unit on the 9th of May. 

Greet re-joined the 60th Australian Infantry Battalion once again after illness on the 11th of May. His battalion only just completed fighting in the Battle of Villers Bretonneux, in April 1918 in Northern France. In June, he was reported Absent Without Leave from two parades and tattoo, forfeiting 15 day's pay as a repercussion. 

Greet was killed in action with the 60th Australian Infantry Battalion in France on the 31st of August 1918. It is unclear what battle or conflict this was a result of. His body was buried in the Assevillers New British Cemetery, 10 kilometres southwest of Peronne. His age of death was documented as 21 years and 3 months, accurate according to his birthdate in 1897; although ironic as the age of death coincides with the incorrect age on his enlistment papers. After his death, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. 

In November of 1918, Greet’s father William John Greet enquired about intelligence surrounding his son’s death, although correspondence revealed this could not be divulged to him at this time. Greet’s brother “GCL Greet”, sent a letter concerning financial matters regarding his late brother; although there is no documentation of this person, or if it was in fact his brother, as the letter in question was sent from the same Adelaide residence of William John Greet. 

In 1919, a letter from an officer in the Australian Imperial Force was sent, querying Private Greet’s whereabouts, as he was recorded missing since 1918, believed to have enlisted with the Cyclist Corps in Melbourne, in 1918. Presumably to be a result of a lack of communication, as Greet was overseas in 1918 and since deceased on the date of writing, as confirmed by the response to the letter.

Greet’s father passed away in 1923, five years after his son’s death. Greet’s younger brother Roy Stanley Cooper remained and served in WWII as part of the artillery regiment, living well into his late seventies.

Clarence William Greet is remembered as one of the many Australian soldiers who died far too young, thousands of miles from home. His legacy is memorialised in the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Glandore State Wards & Honour Roll, the Mildura Cenotaph, and the Norwood Primary School Honour Board. 

Private C. W. GREET, son of Mr. W. J. Greet, of Kent-terrace, Kent Town, was killed in action on August 30, 1918, in France. Gunner A. W. HANSON, killed in action on September 1, 1918, was the youngest son of Mrs. and the late Mr. C. O. Hanson, Robin-street, Kew. He enlisted on June 1, 1917, and sailed on November 21. He was of a bright disposition and loved and respected by all who knew 
him. He was 19 years of age.