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Surname: CLARE; Given Names: Rutherford Barker; Date of Birth: 29 August 1897; Date of Enlistment: 17 August 1915; Trade or Calling: Electrician; Birth Location: Kapunda; Address prior to enlistment: 15 Park St Unley; Photograph sent by: Mrs E C Clare
Source: State Records SA

Son of William Rutherford Clare and Emma Catherine Clare, of 15, Park St., Unley, South Australia

Rutherford Clare was not yet 18 years old when he enlisted on the 15th July 1915.  He was assigned to the 8th Reinforcements of the 27th Battalion and embarked with them on the 12th January 1916 on the HMAT Borda A30, after basic training in Adelaide.

Embarkation Roll Extract - embarkation_roll: roll_number: 15 embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note:

Rutherford Clare was transferrred to the 10th Battalion 28 February 1916, in the consolidation and reinforcement phase following the extraction of the ANZAC Corps from Gallipoli, and the so-called 'doubling of the AIF' that took place to form the Fourth and Fifth Divisions prior to embarkation for France.  The 10th Battalion, having been at ANZAC since the landing, was halved with some of its experienced Officers NCO and soldiers forming the basis of the 50th Battalion.  Rutherford Clare would have been one of the reinforcements allocated to 'refill' the vacancies in the 10th Battalion arising from this measure.  He joined the Battlion in Egypt prior to embarkation for Marseilles.

Like the remainder of the Australian Divisions, the First, of which the 10th Battalion and its parent 3rd Brigade was part, were rotated through the so-called 'Nursery' sector near Armentieres.  In June the Australian Divisions less the 5th Division, began the move south to the Somme.

The 10th Battalion was back in action soon enough.  As part of the First Division it was first into action at Pozieres from the 23rd July 1916.  Just two days later, Rutherford was wounded on 25 July 1916, his records indicating a GSW to face (the abbreviation GSW could variously mean gun shot wound or general shrapnel wound depending on who was writing the report).  

Thereafter he endured a string of re-admissions in and out of hospital.  He was re-admitted because of complications with his original wound in November of 1916, while the Battalion was ensconsed in the misery of Guedecourt  during the worst winter in living memory in that part of France.  He did not rejoin the unit until March 1917.

Rutherford's return to the front line was short-lived.  He was Killed in Action just one month later on the 8th April 1917.  He was 19 years old.

The Battalion had moved to the line from Montauban and Fremicourt over the period 4-7 April, and relieved the 29th Battalion, coincident with operations further north at Bullecourt.  

At this point in time the Germans had begun withdrawing their front line independent of what the Allies were doing, to consolidate along the Hindenberg Line, leaving fortified poutposts in most of the villages along the way.  Their aim was to impose maximum delay on the Allies to enable the withdrawal to acheive a "clean break" from contact, and weaken any follow up.  This phase became known as the battle for the Outpost Villages.

At 0300 on the 8th April, the 10th Battalion advanced about 1,000 yards near Doignes.  Strong opposition was met by B Company with Capt McCann MC the company commander being wounded and the other officers killed or wounded.  A total of 40 casualties were sustained, with Private Rutherford Clare among them. ("The Fighting Tenth:, Lock pp65)

He was buried in the field at Loverrval Wood about 1mile north of Doignies.  His remains were later disinterred and re-buried at the Mouvres Extension cemetery.

Rutherford , despite his 1915 enlistment date, was deemed not eligible for the 1914/15 Star (because embarkation was post 1 Jan 1916).   British War Medal 29902 and Victory Medal 29729  Memorial Scroll and Commeorative Medallion 306084

Research by Steve Larkins from service records and 10th Battalion history