TEAKEL, Clarence
| Service Number: | 2464 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 September 1915, West Maitland, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Myrtleford, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Myrtleford, Alpine, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Myrtleford State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Engine Cleaner |
| Died: | Died of Illness - Expoliative Dermatitis and Broncho Pneumonia, No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex, England, 2 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Harefield (St. Mary) Churchyard, Middlesex, United Kingdom Australian Section. Grave 69. Inscription: MY DEAR BOY |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton Newcastle District Tramways Roll of Honor, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Merewether Memorial Gates, Myrtleford Methodist Church Great War Roll of Honor, Myrtleford State School No 955 Great War Honor Roll, Myrtleford War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2464, Depot Battalion (AIF), West Maitland, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2464, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2464, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Orsova, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Clarence TEAKEL (Service Number 2464) was born on 28th December 1895 at Bright, Victoria. He commenced working with the NSW Government Railways and Tramways as a temporary (steam tram) motor cleaner in the Tramways Traffic Branch in Newcastle. [Steam tram "locomotives" were called "motors"]. His position became permanent in May 1914. On 23rd September 1915 he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces. He enlisted at West Maitland t the next day. On his Attestation Papers he gives his ‘trade or calling’ as ‘Engine Cleaner’. Teakel gave his Father, living in Myrtleford, Victoria as his next of kin.
On 11th December 1915 he was Absent Without Leave when detailed for musketry and fined a day’s pay.
He was allotted to the 4th Reinforcements to the 30th Battalion. He embarked HMAT ‘Orsova’ at Sydney on 11th March 1916. After only a brief time there he embarked HMT ‘Franconia’ at Alexandria on 6th June having been classified by a medical board as only fit for home service. He reached Plymouth on 16th June and marched out to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs. It was while at this depot that Teakel got into serious trouble. He was court martialled on 16th November 1916 for:
‘Conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline. In that he at Andover at 11-45 am on the 29th day of October 1916 was in possession of a document purporting to be a genuine pass, well knowing that it was not genuine. To undergo detention for 71 days.’
The sentence was confirmed by Brigadier General Sir Newton-Moore KCMG, VO on 20th November 1916.
‘I confirm the finding & sentence of the Court but remit 30 days of the sentence. Sgnd. at Bhurtpore Barracks, Tidworth.’
Teakel had already spent 18 days in confinement awaiting trial. He also forfeited 59 days pay. In January 1917 he was assigned to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs and then to other Australian bases at Hurdcott and Weymouth.
In July he was admitted to the first Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford with venereal disease. Treatment only took four days. He remained in the Convalescent Training Depot in July 1918 but returned to Bulford in August. The diagnosis now was arsenical dermatitis. In Septemberit w as exfoliating dermatitis.
He died of this disease, with secondary Broncho-Pneumonia at the No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on 7th October 1918.
He was buried in the Harefield Parish Churchyard with full military honours.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.