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Older brother, Lionel was the first son of Helen and William James Clutterbuck, with Aubrey born in Sydney on the 24th November, 1901 being their second.
Early in his working career, Aubrey was employed as sales manager for Lismore based Auto sales Ltd. He had a small brush with the law as a 27-year-old when driving. With his view obscured by a monument Aubrey did not see an approaching horse and cart, which he swerved to avoid hitting. Unfortunately, he was fined £3, with 8/-costs and witness's expenses of a further10/-. This, however did not affect him heading the release of the 1928 Oldsmobile.
Aubery, known as Bill then worked in the Sydney head office for the Mutual Life and Citizens' Assurance Co. At the time, he was also secretary of the Lismore Camera Club, a skill he would continue to return to. In July ’32 he was transferred to Adelaide where he met the then Police Commissioner’s daughter, Betty Gir Leane. Betty’s father was Brigadier General Raymond L. Leane, and was probably a major influence on Bill’s future career path as his own father was deceased. Betty and Bill married in the Holy Trinity Church on the 21st November ’33. Following their motoring honeymoon, the young couple returned to live in Tusmore. At that stage, Bill was employed as a Life Insurance Inspector. Certainly, those skills for attention to detail were to serve him well in the army.
Bill had joined the Australian Military Forces and Senior Cadets as S25652. By February ’37 he was awarded the rank of Lieutenant (on probation) in the 43rd/48th Battalion, little knowing that he would lead one of the most highly respected and decorated battalions, the 2/48th. By August the following year, Lieutenant Bill, as the Transport Officer, was conducting full-day classes on Mud Driving at the Keswick Barracks. It was not all hard work as Bill took on the role of secretary of the 43/48th Battalion, two highly regarded battalions raised for service in the ‘Great War’. He helped coordinate the commemoration of the 21st birthdays of the two battalions with a dance in the Torrens Hall, Parade Ground in June ’37. Betty’s parents were amongst the official guest in the capacity of Commissioner of Police (Brigadier-General R. L. Leane) and Mrs. Leane.
In the ensuing years, Bill took on additional roles, including as convener of the men's committee for decoration for the battalion’s annual ball at the Palais Royal.
The outbreak of WWII prompted the formation of the new 2/48th Battalion. Highly regarded retail store, John Martin’s offered their ballroom for a Regimental Ball in October ’40, with proceeds going to the purchase of drums for the battalion band. Whilst the new enlistees were training at Woodside, Bill’s father-in-law in his official capacity as Brig-General R.L. Leane, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., V.D., commander of the original WWI 48th Battalion, presented the corps of drums and the flag of the original 48th Battalion to the new 2/48th. This was especially significant as his son, SX2891 Lieutenant Geoffrey Malcolm Leane was the second in command of the company. (Geoffrey later also rose to the rank of Captain.) It was also a momentous month for Bill as he was awarded the rank of Temporary Captain when he officially commenced duty. By the time the Stratheden sailed for the Middle East, Bill held the full title of Captain in the new 2/48th Battalion.
Accolades for the new battalion were soon being shared by the Commissioner of Police in the May ’41 edition of the Advertiser. Colonel W.J. Windeyer wrote to his father, enclosing a copy of a commendation by the General Commanding the 9th Division. A.I.F., as follows: "My compliments to you and your battalion on the splendid show which you have put up this week. That you stood so firm and. have been so resolute has been of the utmost importance and does you great credit" —L. S. Moreshead. General. G.O.C., 9th Aust. Div. Praise for the Second 48th has also come from an officer of another unit, who wrote: —"Windeyer's 48th Battalion is doing a marvellous job. It has genuinely made a name for itself. Everybody knows it by its exploits. Unfortunately, I can say no more." General Leane himself has a personal interest in the news, as commander the original 48th, plus his son, Captain Geoffrey Leane. and son-in-law, Captain V. Clutterbuck. were both serving with the battalion.’
By August ’41 Captain Aubrey ‘Bill’ Clutterbuck was in charge of A Company, with the whole battalion occupying and preparing the ‘Blue Line’ defence, the second line of defence in Tobruk. Darren Peach in Adelaide to Alamein based on his grandfather’s war diaries, (Ivor Paech) shared an entry from 30th August ’41 that “Captain Clutterbuck gave us the warning order that we would be moving forward to the right of the Salient next night. We were to relieve the troops in the forward defensive lines for about a fortnight.” Darren added that “Captain Aubrey ‘Bill’ Clutterbuck, aged 39, the OC of A Company, was a very competent officer who had previously served in the Militia before the war. Letters from one of his subordinate officers stated he had a reputation for being a bit of a micromanager, which led him to get on the nerves of his troops at times. Despite this, the OC was a nice chap socially, so Ivor got along with him well enough.’
Having been in the Red Line for two weeks early in September ’41, nerves were on edge from the constant machine gun and shell fire. ‘Bill’ decided to move his men back, a welcome move as the rations were slightly better and the men could move from their cramped positions to above ground. However, there was always digging to be done.
Towards the end of September, spirits were raised when Bill and ‘an English officer by the name of Shepherd came to visit the men of the 2/48th. Conditions endured at the time included being infested with fleas and flies, but the men had learned to wash, shave and clean their teeth in a pannikin of water.
Soon after, a forward-thinking official photographer took two iconic photos of the officers of the 2/48th Battalion in Tobruk in October. Not all were to return.
Bill’s brother-in-law, Captain Geoff Leane, who served with Bill in the 2/48th, followed his father’s bravery example and was himself mentioned in despatches for conspicuous service in the Middle East.
By June’42 the battalion moved to Tripoli to relieve the 20th brigade. At this point, Bill and three other officers received notice they were to return to Australia to provide experienced men for the Home Forces. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan commented that ‘these men were among the senior officers of the battalion and were keenly missed by the troops who had been under their command.’
By June ’43, as did so many of those with whom he served, Bill contracted malaria in New Guinea, a condition that continued to re-appear. He attained the rank of Major before finally being discharged on the 24th November ‘43
For the family, exceptional news was received for the King’s Birthday Honours in June 45 with Brigadier-General Sir Raymond Leane, being made a knight. During WWI he had been wounded in action three times and was mentioned in despatches eight times. Gen. Leane was one of the covering party which landed at Gallipoli on April 25. 1915, commanded the 11th Battalion there, then the 48th in Egypt 'and France. then the 12th Brigade, and finally the 4th Divisional Group in 1919
Post war, as a civilian, Aubrey’s keen eye for detail was utilised with his interest in photography, becoming president of the Adelaide Camera Club. The membership peaked at over130, offering outstanding success in its two International Salons, the very successful course of instruction in photography and in acquiring its own club rooms in the in Laubman & Pank's Building, Gawler place. Bill was the recipient of numerous awards for his own photos, including a highly praised exhibit called ‘Crusader Arches’ for its range of tones in ’44. That exhibition attracted 450 images, displayed at the SA Society of Arts Gallery. Aware of the dire situation in Britain, the club and its members donated a total of £10 to the Food for Britain Appeal just prior to Christmas, 45.
Added joy for the family occurred in March ’46 when Biil and Betty’s elder son, Flying Officer Jack Clutterbuck, serving in the Royal Australian Air Force, announced his engagement. By October, their daughter, Margaret married an ex R.A.A.F. young man she had met whilst she was with the W.A.AF. at Headquarters, Melbourne. Service to Australia was a key attribute of the family.
Bill was also well aware of returned servicemen with an interest in photography and as President, announced a three-month course in photography, to open at the Adelaide University, 45 and 46. It was concentrated and challenging, covering home portraiture, all phases of developing, enlarging, and contact printing, after-treatment of prints, sensitive materials and pictorial composition.
Bill and Betty moved back to Victoria where, in July ’48 he was appointed secretary of the recently formed South-Western Victoria Development League, at Warrnambool. He was pivotal in negotiations to establish a well-known rayon factory in the area.
They later moved to Albury where Bill became a professional Photographer, visiting nearby regions to conduct appointments and having photos included in the local Border Morning Mail newspaper. He and Betty celebrated their younger son, William’s engagement in September ’50 and their marriage in January ’52.
Aged 60, Aubrey died on the 15th June ’63 and now rests in the Centennial Park Cemetery West, Rose bed W4, Position 22. 90-year-old Betty died in July 2002 and now rest alongside Aubury.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion