CLERKE, Alfred Charles
| Service Number: | VX23112 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 June 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, 22 July 1907 |
| Home Town: | Eltham, Nillumbik, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Printer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Ambon, Netherlands East Indies, 2 February 1942, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Commemorated ~ Column 2, Ambon Memorial, Maluku, Indonesia. |
| Memorials: | Ambon Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Eltham War Memorial, Kangaroo Ground Shire of Eltham Tower of Remembrance |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement VX23112 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Corporal, VX23112 | |
| 15 Jul 1940: | Transferred Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, 2nd/21st Infantry Battalion, Part of Gull Force. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Bonald
Corporal Alfred Charles Clerke (VX23112) was a member of the 2nd/21st Australian Infantry Battalion which formed part of “Gull Force”.
This force consisted of 1131 Australian soldiers, Dutch and local native troops whose objective was to occupy Ambon Island, which is located approximately 350 miles North Northeast of Timor in the Banda Sea and hinder the Japanese advance Corporal Alfred Charles Clerke was a member of the large garrison (Laha Garrison), positioned around Laha Airfield prior to the Japanese invasion of 30 January 1942.
After a series of short but fierce battles, fighting on Ambon Island ceased on 2 February 1942. Investigations established on 24 October 1945, that Corporal Alfred Charles Clerke was killed in action on or before 2 February 1942 at Laha, Amboina and his remains have not been recovered.
“Not one life can we call lost, for with it will be riven, the sacred memory of a life, unto his country given." -
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