CLARK, Charles Edward James
| Service Number: | 709 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia , 6 October 1895 |
| Home Town: | Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Daw Park Repatriation Hospital, South Australia, 6 May 1975, aged 79 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 709, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 709, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 709, 4th Machine Gun Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Charles Edward James Clark was an Australian soldier who served in the first world war. He was born in Adelaide, one of 10 children the third eldest child and first-born son of Isaac Emmanual and Daisy Clark (nee Turner). Before enlisting, Clark worked as a farmer.
At the age of 20 years and 10 months, on the 28th August 1914, Clark enlisted and his father was listed as his next of kin. Charles embarked overseas on the HMAT Ascanius from Adelaide on 20th October 1914.
Charles first served in the 10th Battalion during the Gallipoli campaign. The conditions at Gallipoli were extremely harsh, with steep terrain, constant enemy fire, and poor sanitation, this led to illnesses spread across many troops. Soldiers faced extreme temperatures and continuous danger, with often little opportunity for rest. Charles became ill with gastritis in September 1915 requiring hospital tratment. He returned to his unit after a couple of weeks.
Following Gallipoli, Clark completed more training in Egypt before proceeding to join the British Expeditionary Force in France and arrived at Marseilles 12th June 1916. He was transferred to the 13th Machine Gun Company in July.
In May 1917 Clark was promoted to Temporary Corporal and soon after in July his appointment was confirmed as Corporal. He spent more time in hospital in August 1917 to be treated for strained hernia. Once he recovered, he returned to his unit but was soon sent back to hospital. He remained between hospital and Depot in France until February 1918 when he returned to his unit. In April he was transferred to the 4th Machine Gun Battlaion and at the end of the month was wounded with sharpnet would to his thigh. He was evacuated to England for treatment and moved between hospitals.
Charles married Adeline Clorinda Porter on May 29th of 1918. He proceeded back to France 2nd October 1918 and rejoined the 4th Machine Gun Battalion on the 7th October. A couple of weeks later he was granted 1914 leave and returned to the UK. He had 75 days of leave with pay and at the end of this period reported to base. He then prepared for the return to Australia with his wife.
Clark arrived back Australia in April of 1919 and was officially discharged on June 4th. He had at least 3 children with Adeline and lived at Unley with his family
He lived a long life after the war, passing away in 1975 at the age of 79 at Daw Park Repatriation hospital. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery in Pasadena, South Australia
Reference list:
Adfa.edu.au. (2026). Details. [online] Available at: https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=53155.
Australian War Memorial (n.d.). | The Australian War Memorial. [online] www.awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51450.
Awm.gov.au. (2025). AWM4 Subclass 24/4 - 4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339216.
Knighton, A. (2018). Breaking The Deadlock - Machine Gun Tactics of WWI. [online] WAR HISTORY ONLINE. Available at: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/world-war-i/breaking-the-deadlock-machine-gun.html.
Terrace, V. (2026). View digital copy. [online] Naa.gov.au. Available at: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1966564&S=1.
Vwma.org.au. (2019). Australian Soldiers, Memorials and Military History. [online] Available at: https://vwma.org.au/.
www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). AWM4 Subclass 23/67 - 50th Infantry Battalion. [online] Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1339165.