Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clarence (Clarrie) was born in Adelaide on the 21st November, 1918 to William Godfrey and Ivy Annette Baldwin. He had a younger brother Jack born in July ’20.
Clarrie grew up in Pinnaroo, a country town in the Murray Mallee near the South Australian and Victorian border. He first attended the Kringin School with children from Peebinga, Mootatunga and Karte involved in an October’28 annual picnic and sports day where both Clarrie and Jack excelled in the running races. The following year the family all attended a fundraising concert and dance in the local Kringin Hall to raise funds for their school. Clarrie completed his education at the Pinnaroo Higher Primary school where his father, William was one of the bus drivers who did the daily transport run for outlying students and was praised for his punctuality and care of the pupils. The school was very supportive of the war effort with Jack being involved in the fundraising efforts for the Patriotic Funds soon after Clarrie enlisted.
Aged 21, Clarrie enlisted on the 29th June 1940 with his close friends 22 year old Clem Billing and ‘Beau’ Jones with the trio becoming SX7108, SX6829 and SX6856 respectively. All were allocated to the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Their first days were spent in the cold of the Pavilions, now part of the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds before the battalion headed to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for preliminary training.
Following pre-embarkation leave, the friends and their 2/48th Battalion then embarked on the Stratheden for the Middle East, on the 7th November 1940, arriving on the 19th December 1940 where the Battalion completed a few months training in Cyrenaica. During those early days in the Middle East, the battalion settled into camps, but besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals. The new soldiers were soon involved in intense conflicts where the reputation of the 2/48th Battalion for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned.
Back home, the local Pinnaroo and Border Times encouraged letters to be published from those serving abroad. These gave a very personal picture of conditions the young country enlistees were experiencing. ‘Beau’ Jones (Horrace) SX6856 wrote in a letter published in July ’41 describing the totally foreign conditions to home. “Egypt is a land of dust and flies. You would not like it as there are no trees here, just houses and rocks —it looks so desolate. It seems as though we are camped in the centre of a fallow paddock. All day the R.A.F. are buzzing overhead. They' are cute little planes—here one minute, gone the next. I saw an air raid last night. It is a fascinating sight in the distance. Tracer bullets shrieking through the heavens and heavy shells bursting higher up, with searchlights moving across the sky like long fingers; then the whoomph of bombs. We hop into our trenches and slap our tin hats on and watch the fun.”
The work that was being done by those back home was particularly appreciated with Norm Badman SX7093 also from the 2/48th writing “I was delighted to receive a parcel from you containing a pair of socks from the Pinnaroo Girls’ Soldiers’ Appeal Club, and also a packet of razor blades from yourself. ' The soldiers have every reason to be deeply grateful for the work that the F.F. Comforts Fund are doing for them, for they are doing a magnificent work over here. So we (the soldiers from Pinnaroo) were pleased and grateful for the work done by the members of the girls’ Soldiers’ Appeal Club, for that too, is a wonderful effort, and well worthy of our sincere gratitude. I sincerely thank you, and the members of the club for your kindly; thought in forwarding me a parcel.
“I was also, interested to learn that members of your club are writing to. various soldiers and was particularly interested in the letter Clarrie Baldwin received. It certainly was a very newsy letter and was appreciated. I can say that there are six Pinnaroo lads in our Battalion who have been killed, and we hope to see this war through, and then come back and tell you all about it!”
Death became part of the daily fighting but the local Pinnaroo enlistees respectfully paid tribute to their fallen mates. ‘Beau’ Jones wrote in a second letter. “Clarrie Baldwin, Tom Trish and myself visited the cemetery and put in the day making Eddie’s (Thiel) and Rex’s (Neindorf) grave, it being our last opportunity. We worked hard and managed to complete them and take a snap of each which we will send to their parents in Australia. We were very disappointed in not being able to do Barry Withers’ grave, but time was against us. It is hard to realize they are gone, but they have done their share like men. Some people do not realise what war is and what it does to a man. Perhaps some day soon we will be able to thank the girls for all they have done for us, and during a dance we may tell a few skites about Tobruk. Maybe you won’t believe them, but perhaps you will have the grace to look interested. Clem and myself send kind regards to all.”
Welcome news drifted back and was also published in October ’42 that Clarrie had been promoted to Acting Corporal. However, the following month less welcome news was received as the two friends who enlisted on the same day were also wounded at a similar time. ‘Since our last issue two more Pinnaroo soldiers have been reported wounded in action in the Middle East. They are Corporal Clarrie Baldwin and Corporal Clem Billing. In both cases the cable read “wounded in action,” therefore, it can be assumed that the wounds are not serious. Cpls Baldwin and Billing were among some of the first Pinnaroo boys to sail for overseas with the AIF and have fought in several desert campaigns. Residents trust that news of their complete recovery will not be long delayed.’
The November ‘42 Advertiser carried news of injuries received by three Pinnaroo young men, all from the 2/48th Battalion. It was a tense time for the close-knit community. ‘Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Badman, of Pinnaroo, have been notified that their son, Cpl. Norm Badman, has been wounded in action. A brother, Pte. Alf Badman, was recently re-ported wounded in action. Mr. and Mrs. R J. Billing, of Pinnaroo, have received word that their son. Cpl. Clem Billing, has been wounded in action. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, of Pinnaroo, have been informed that their son, Pte. Clarrie Baldwin, has been wounded in action.’ Fortunately, all three men survived.

Just days later a poem was received from Clarrie in an incident that particularly annoyed the troops. With ‘souveniring’ of items not uncommon, in many cases a blind eye was turned.
“The regiment is in disgrace for robbing an Itie Knob,
Some rascal snatched a Colonel’s watch worth about two bob;
It surely was an awful deed; in the Army it’s just not done,
And I suppose until they find it no victory can be won.
They’ve looked in all the pawnshops, from Alex to Aleppo,
But not a sign can anyone find of that imitation “Shoppo’’.
Kit inspections have been held, they’ve questioned every man;
Tried all ways to dig it up, but b— if they can.
To find Scirrocco’s timepiece is more important than the front,
And the best brains in the Army are joining in the hunt.
They’ve tried hard to find it and I’ve a strong suspicion,
I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if that was Churchill’s mission.
The search goes on from day to day, morning, noon and night,
But it seems the old Wop’s done
If in the watch has gone alright.
Perhaps some joker “wogged” it and went out on the shicker.
That would be the proper thing to do with that old ticker!”

Older brother, Jack Raymond enlisted in December ’42 becoming a driver in the Transport Companies and immediately announced his engagement to Dorothea Blackwell. The two married in April the following year. Jack was eventually discharged in 30 Oct ’45.
Back home on leave, injured Clarrie and Angus Billing were able to have time to enjoy a dance at the Parilla Well Hall in March ’43. That month Clarry and Mildura nurse Pat Adams announced their engagement, a relationship that did not last. Better news was received at the end of that year of Clarrie’s promotion to Sergeant and the return of his married brother, Jack and his wife having time with his parents.
By November ’43 in preparation for an assault on Sattelberg John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘in the final storming of the stronghold itself, the battalion’s casualties were, though we could not know it then, to number more than one hundred.’ He adds that ‘The first few days of the action were mainly taken up in sparring for position in readiness for the final blow. Patrols were on the move to our front and on both flanks, probing to determine the position of the enemy.’ Glenn explained Clarrie’s role. ‘Sergeant Baldwin moved in close to Coconut Grove one day with two men, remaining there, observing the enemy, until the next. As did all other patrols to Coconut Ridge, he reported great enemy activity. From this it seemed evident that the Japanese would make their stand at this point. A spot that could not be by-passed, it commanded a long stretch of the track.’
In brief time back home again in March ’44 several soldiers were able to attend a dance, including Sgt Clarrie Baldwin and Pte Clarrie Jones from the 2/48th. Warrant Officer Class 2 Clarrie Baldwin was finally discharged on the 14 November ’45. The Pinnaroo and Border Times reported that ‘Immediately the residents turned out in full force to welcome home several servicemen. The Parilla Well Hall was crowded, and the night's proceedings went with a swing. Boys welcomed were Ron and Bill Burford and Clarrie Baldwin.’ Dances and speeches followed with responding on behalf of his comrades and himself.’ The inevitable magnificent country supper followed.
With peace declared and some stability returning to life, Clarrie and a local, very musical girl with a flair for playing the banjo, became a couple. Clarrie married Rhonda Loris Oakley of Panitya, Victoria at Pinnaroo on January 6th ’47. Their first daughter, Joy Lorraine arrived in September, ’48, fittingly born in the local Pinnaroo Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. Two other sisters, Marion and Faye completed their family.
The Pinnaroo School Clarry and Rhonda had attended was fortunate in having willing locals to add to the facilities provided for the students. By August ’44 they had taken on the challenging task of constructing a pool, by hand with up to 24 men volunteering as labourers. Clarry’s father, William was one of those, as was Clarrie.
As a tribute to his service during the war, Clarrie’s name also appears on the Pinnaroo Honor Roll. He had precious time with his parents before Clarrie’s mother, Ivy died on March 10th ’68, then his 80-year-old father nine months later on the 19th December ’68. Both are buried in the Pinnaroo Cemetery.
Clarrie died aged 77 on the 9th March ’96. He is commemorated in the Pinnaroo Cemetery with his wife, Rhonda.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.