Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Arthur Clarence and Fanny Elizabeth Webb, of Paruna, South Australia.

SXG595 Clarence Webb, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Webb of Paruna, who was killed in action in New Guinea on January 1, was born at Peterborough on December S, 1913. He received his early education through the Correspondence School, later attending the Paruna North Public School. Enlisting from Paruna on June 8, 1940, he sailed for overseas on November 17. Pte. Webb served in Palestine, Egypt, was six; months in Tobruk, and in Syria. He returned from the Middle East on April 1, 1942.

Little School's Fine Record
Mr. Alan Petch, as chairman of the Paruna North School during the whole of Clarence's education, in paying a tribute to the soldier said: "I feel that I the rest of the boys who saw  the opening and closing of this school would like to be included in his tribute. Out of the 20 boys who attended during the life of this school 12 are serving their country in one or  other of the forces, one was rejected and three are not of military age. Clarence is the first from this little circle to pay the supreme sacrifice and consequently it brings the  realization of what these boys are doing more vividly home to us and our sincere sympathy goes out to the Webb family in their and our loss."

"Sadness spread from home to home in this district, with the news that one of 'our' soldiers, Pte. C. D. Webb, had paid the supreme sacrifice, said  Mr. Eric Edwards. "It is sixteen years since I first met Clarence, then a boy fresh from school, and a splendid type of boy he was, and he carried his fine qualities through to manhood. I have known him in  church, and social life, and on the sporting fields, always one to be admired, showing Christian character and natural gentlemanliness. Quite early in his young manhood he became secretary, treasurer and organist of the Paruna Methodist Sunday school, then a thriving school of thirty odd scholars. We as a Sunday school regretted his departure  deeply, but had confidence in the knowledge that not only would he serve his King and Country truly, but that he would be loyal to, and serve the king of kings when opportunity  presented itself. At the annual meeting of our Sunday school, held just before Clarence's departure, he tendered his resignation as secretary. Members of the meeting prevailed  upon him to retain the office, while we appointed an acting secretary for the duration. Thus he remained our honoured secretary right up to the time of his death. The people of  our church and Sunday school had a great regard for him, and extend sympathy to hie parents, sisters and brother. As president of the R.S.L. Sub branch Mr. Edwards said, "I  would like to say on behalf of our members that we deeply appreciated the fact that Clarence joined our branch, thus he became the first member of the A.T.F. to join our branch while still on active service. We had looked forward keenly to his comradeship later, both with regret and pride we add his name to those whom we remember as our Fallen  Comrades."
"Clarence was highly respected by all, and his passing has been a great shockk to his many friends in the surrounding districts, said Mr. F. A. Hondow. He was secretary of the Paruna North Tennis Club for its duration, which was about five years. He was also a prominent young member of the Brown's Well Show Society  and for many years was an active and reliable steward in the farm and produce section. Clarence also took a very keen interest in the local agricultural Bureau and on several occasions gave quite interesting and valuable papers. He took a very keen interest in wheat growing and farming generally.