Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Hugh Clarkson was born on 29 September 1897 in Castlemaine, Victoria. His parents were George and Lucy (née Curtis) Clarkson. He attended Scotch College from 1912 to 1915. Hugh won an Entrance Scholarship to Scotch. He was dux of his form in 1915.

Hugh was a university student studying law at the University of Melbourne when he enlisted on 30 January 1917 at Melbourne, Victoria.

Before enlistment, Hugh was a Lieutenant in the Melbourne University Rifles. He enlisted at age 19 with his parents’ permission.

He contracted influenza in France and was hospitalised on 29 October 1918. This necessitated a transfer to the 12th General Hospital at Rouen, where he died of ‘broncho-pneumonia’ on 4 November, just a week before the Armistice.

The Master of Ormond College, to which Hugh had won a full resident scholarship, said ‘He made a good place for himself in Ormond, and was one of a group of exceptional men. He would have done excellent work at the University.’

Source: scotch.vic.edu.au (Scotch College, Melb.)

......................

Hugh Curtis Clarkson is also remembered on the Harcourt School Honour Roll, Vic.

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

Choosing a story to tell often relies heavily on a sub-theme that presents itself – a point in history, an anniversary, a career choice, a life cut tragically short or someone who went on to change the world. Sometimes, however, world events prompt a closer look at a particular life…

News of the approaching Armistice quickly reached all points of the globe. In Ballarat at 8 o’clock Friday morning 8 November 1918, the bells at the fire stations and churches, and sirens at the mines and factories rang out loudly. People flocked into the city as the jubilation continued for several hours. For those with family in the frontline, hope was now clear that they would soon return safely home. Unfortunately, the war had not finished with all too many of these men…

One young man still in France was Hugh Clarkson.

Born at Harcourt near Castlemaine in September 1897, Hugh Curtis Clarkson was the only son of school teacher George Clarkson and his wife, Lucy Mary Curtis. Both George and Lucy had strong ties to Ballarat and district – George was born at Scarsdale and Lucy in Ballarat East; their wedding was celebrated at the Ballarat Baptist Church on 22 March 1894. But his teaching career soon saw George Clarkson posted to the Harcourt State School as head teacher. Hugh received his early education in his father’s school. When he was 9 years-old, following his father’s transfer to the larger Princes Hill State School in inner Melbourne and then the Fairfield State School, Hugh’s education was taken over by other teachers.

After winning a State School Scholarship (finishing at the top of the list of candidates) and an entrance scholarship to Melbourne’s Scotch College, Hugh continued to pursue his studies. He also became actively involved in Senior Cadets with the local Citizen Forces.

In 1916, having attained his Senior Public Examination Certificate Second Class (finishing 8th in the State), Hugh entered Ormond College at the University of Melbourne to begin studying Law. He had completed his first full year, with honours in two subjects, when he enlisted on 30 January 1917. His parent’s both signed their consent, although it must have been a difficult decision for all involved – Lucy Clarkson had been ill for several years and was now an invalid.

Age certainly wasn’t an issue for Hugh Clarkson – he was already a lieutenant in the University Rifles, but his physique made him quite an outstanding recruit for his years. At just 19 years and 4 months of age, Hugh was 6-feet 2½-inches tall, weighed 164-pounds and could expand his chest to 37-inches. The medical officer described him as having ‘good physical development’, with normal eyesight and good teeth. He had scars on both his shins, leaving you to wonder what boyhood scrapes he had gotten himself into. In completing the examination, the doctor recorded Hugh’s fresh complexion, brown hair and black hair.

By this time, George Clarkson had been transferred to Ballarat as Head Teacher of the Pleasant Street State School, and the family had taken a home at 1311 Mair Street. It was there that Hugh lived when he was away from university.

Initially, Hugh was posted to a recruit’s battalion at Royal Park as he awaited posting to the Field Artillery Brigade. He was transferred to Maribyrnong on 5 March 1917 and assigned to the 27th reinforcements of the 6th FAB as a gunner four months later.

On 9 November 1917, Hugh boarded the troopship Port Sydney at the Melbourne docks to begin the journey to Egypt. From there he sailed over the Mediterranean to Taranto in Italy, then across country to Cherbourg in France. He finally disembarked at Southampton, England, on 4 January 1918.

Hugh was in camp at Heytesbury when news of his mother’s death on 1 February was conveyed to him. It must have been a particularly difficult time for the young man being so very far from home, from his father and only sibling, his little sister Jean, who was just 16.

The war, however, was entering a critical and decisive phase, and there was little, if any time for grief. Hugh sailed for France on 27 March 1918 and arrived at the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles the following day.

When he joined the 6th FAB on 2 April, the unit was still in the Messines sector in Flanders. It was only a matter of days before they were moved down onto the Somme, where the Allies were staunchly holding off the German Spring Offensive that threatened to overrun the major French city of Amiens. The 6th FAB batteries went into position at the small village of Ribemont-sur-Ancre, and Hugh was posted as a signaller to the 106th Battery.

The 6th FAB maintained their position at Ribemont until the end of July, when in conjunction with batteries of the Royal Field Artillery, they turned their attention to Villers-Bretonneux. On 9 August, the batteries moved into position at Frameville-Rainecourt as the Allies continued to push the German Army backwards. This more mobile aspect of the war continued, and by the middle of August the unit was at Rosieres and the ensuing months saw frequent movements along the line.

By the end of October, the 6th FAB guns were on the recalibration range and the men had moved to Camon on the outskirts of Amiens. It was clear that the war was finally drawing to a close. Hugh Clarkson had served throughout this period without issue. But, on 29 October, he was forced to report sick to hospital. He was admitted to the 41st Stationary Hospital where he was diagnosed with influenza.

The following day he was transferred to the 12th General Hospital in Rouen.

What few people could comprehend was the rapidity of illness caused by this particular virus. And it’s dramatic effect on the young. Hugh was treated with everything medically available in 1918, but, after five days of raging fevers the influenza had turned into broncho-pneumonia. He died at Rouen on 4 November 1918. As was becoming customary with influenza deaths, burial was immediate to avoid possible infection transfer. Hugh Curtis Clarkson, the 21 year-old law student and only son, was buried in the St Sever Cemetery Extension adjacent to the hospital at Rouen.

The bells and sirens announcing the end of the war had barely stopped ringing across Australia, when news of Hugh’s death was received in Ballarat. On 17 November, the flags on the City and Town Halls were flown at half-mast to mark a civic tribute of respect to the memory of the four soldiers whose deaths had been recorded during the previous week. Alongside Hugh Clarkson were Gunner Robert Edmund Tait, Private Charles Walker Tucker, and Corporal John Vincent Standen. Four families who had believed that the end of the war had meant an end to their personal burden.

Tributes for Hugh Clarkson came from the Head Master of Scotch College, who spoke of the young man as ‘gifted and promising.’ His master at Ormond College wrote, ‘He soon made for himself a good place at Ormond, and was one of a group of exceptional men. He would have done excellent work at the University…’ There is no doubt that the loss of this young man was particularly significant.

In his Will, dated 4 July 1917, Hugh had named his father as executor and sole beneficiary. Parcels of personal effects were eventually returned to Ballarat and contained the usual soldier’s ephemera of razors, photos and letters. However, a cigarette case, tobacco pouch, two devotional books and two volumes of poetry and Hugh’s wristwatch were of a more personal nature and gave an insight into the young owner.

For George Clarkson, the grief must have been hard to bear – in less than twelve months he had lost his wife and his only son. He continued to teach, with his only daughter working as a clerk. His sister, Catherine, came in to keep house for him. However, following her death in 1941, Jean took over the task. She never married.

George chose a popular classic Latin phrase for his son’s headstone – one often associated often with the Education Department.

Dolce et decorum est pro patria mori – sweet it is to die for one’s country.

Tragically, it was to be inscribed over too many a young man’s grave.