80967
CLECH, David Gordon Francis
| Service Number: | 3264 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | South Australia, April 1893 |
| Home Town: | Rosewater (Greytown), Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | South Australia, 3 September 1982, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 3264, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 3264, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Driver, 3264 | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3264 |
Help us honour David Gordon Francis Clech's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
David Gordon Francis was born on April 1893 in Rosewater, South Australia. David was the son of Mrs Agnes Clech and was a Roman Catholic. At the time his marital status was single. David lived with his Mum on 31 Tudor Street, Dulwich Avenue and worked as a labourer prior to the war. Clech had hazel eyes with a medium complexion and brown hair. Standing at 5 ft 5 inches and weighing 65kg, 22-year-old David was shorter than the average soldier in WW1. David Clech enlisted on 30 August 1915 as a Private and embarked 2 months later on the 27th of October 1915. Clech embarked from Adelaide, South Australia aboard the transport ship HMAT A24 Benalla. He embarked from Adelaide with the unit 10th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement.
Belgium September 1917
Polygon Wood
David fought in the battle of Polygon Wood in Belgium. David undertook lots of training before the battle on the 17th of September. The company signallers and snipers reported to Lieutenants Dodson the training times. The 10th Infantry trained from Sunday the 3rd of September to Saturday the 8th between the times of 10am to 12pm. On Thursday 6/9/1917 David undertook physical training and platoon training. On the 17th David and the 10th Battalion marched to Chateau Segard, Belgium via Junction Road. After a series of long training, the 10th Infantry were asked to participate in an operation that was crucial for the British Armies and its allies. As quoted by the major general “Each Australian soldier is equal to any two Germans.” The unit’s major general was very confident in the Australian troops and all the training they went through. The eight-day battle was a success, but the hard earn victory came with the cost of more than 5700 Australian casualties.
David spent 2 years fighting in France and Belgium between 1916 and 1918. On 20/5/16 David was allotted temporary driver in Serapeum Egypt. 2 years on 11 November 1918, Clech was promoted to a driver for his hard work.
David was in trouble during his service. On the 21/9/1917 David lied to the Military Police and attempted to break from arrest. He was awarded 10 days field punishment No2, where he undertook heavy labouring duties. Clech committed another crime 2 years later on the 6/2/1919 where he neglected the ships orders and received 7 days’ pay.
A year after fighting Polygon Wood in Belgium in 1917, David was transferred back to France. Whilst fighting in France David was shot in his right knee. This incident occurred on 6.8.1918. Two days later David was located to hospital by his field marshal. David’s unit that was travelling to the UK were then attacked by enemy forces, severely wounding numerous more soldiers. On 12.8.18 David was administered to Reading War hospital where he temporary stayed. 18 days later David was transferred to 1st Aux hospital, where they could properly treat his wound.
David Gordon Francis Clech returned to Australia on January 2, 1919, with a total service of 3 years and 219 days. His last rank was a driver, and his last unit was the 10th Infantry Battalion. David received 3 medals for his service. These include the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. David Gordon Clech died at age 89 on the 3rd of September 1982 and was buried at Enfield.