CLARKE, Joseph
| Service Number: | 1903 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 June 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Rochcorry, Co Monoghan, Ireland, 11 April 1888 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Rallway signalman |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 6 June 1916, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier Brewery Orchard Cemetery Plot 1V, Row D, Grave 1, |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cessnock Abermain Comforts Fund Pictorial Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1903, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Aug 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1903, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 17th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Joseph CLARKE, (Service Number 1903) was born on 11 April 1888 in Gomatris, Rockcorry, Monaghan, Ireland. He first worked for the NSW Railways as a temporary porter in the Newcastle District. In April 1915 he became a signalman. On 12 June 1915 he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces. On his Attestation Papers, signed on 17 June, he stated that he was not married and named his mother Elizabeth, still living in Ireland as his next of kin.
He left Australia through Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Runic’ on 9 August 1915.
Submitted 31 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography
17 Battalion
Rank - Private
Proceeded to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli,, 12 October 1915.
Admitted to hospital, Mudros, 19 December 1915 (injury; right fore-finger); disembarked Alexandria, 23 December 1915, and admitted to No 1 Auxiliary Hospital, Heliopolis;
Discharged to Overseas Base, 28 December 1915;
Returned to duty, Tel el Kebir, 19 January 1916.
Proceeded from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 March 1916;
Disembarked Marseilles 23 March 1916
Son of Hugh and Elizabeth J. Clarke, of Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan, Ireland.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Joseph CLARKE, (Service Number 1903) was born on 11th April 1888 in Gomatris, Rockcorry, Monaghan, Ireland. He first worked for the NSW Railways as a temporary porter in the Newcastle District. In April 1915 he became a signalman. On 12th June 1915 he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces. On his Attestation Papers, which he signed on 17th June, he stated that he was not married and named his mother Elizabeth, who was still living in Ireland, as his next of kin.
He left Australia from Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Runic’ on 9th August 1915. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces on Gallipoli. He was part of the 17th Australian Infantry Battalion. Upon evacuation of the peninsula on 19th December, Joseph was admitted to hospital on Mudros with an injury to his right forefinger. He reached Alexandria on ‘Dunluce Castle’ on 23rd December,. He was admitted to No. 1 Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis (Egypt). He returned to duty at Tel-el-Kebir on 19th January 1916.
He embarked from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force and reached Marseilles on 23rd March.
He was killed in action in France on 6th June 1916.
He is buried in Brewery Orchard Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, 4000 yards South of Armentières, Lille, Nord pas de Calais, France. Rev K C Single officiated.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
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