S5967
THORSEN, Clarence Roy
| Service Number: | 425 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kadina, South Australia, 9 June 1896 |
| Home Town: | Kadina, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | 23 April 1971, aged 74 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Kadina & District WW1 Roll of Honor, Kadina Pictorial Honour Roll, Kadina Town Hall WW1 & WW2 Roll of Honour, Richmond West Adelaide Football Club War Veterans Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 1 May 1915: | Enlisted | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement 425, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked 425, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 3 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Sergeant, 425, 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery, Bullecourt (Second), SW back and neck | |
| 7 Mar 1918: | Honoured Military Medal, Polygon Wood, During operations at POLYGON WOOD - East of YPRES - from 26th/30th September 1917, Sergeant THORSEN rendered most valuable service in establishing forward dumps for Stokes Shells under heavy enemy barrage fire. He organised and led ammunition parties carrying Stokes Shells to the forward Trench Mortar emplacements in the captured position, and there established dumps, and during the action maintained the supply of ammunition for the guns, enabling several counter attacks on the right flank to be repelled. On several occasions he safely led his carrying parties through heavy enemy barrages. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Lieutenant, 425, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
Clarence Roy Thorsen
Name: Clarence Roy Thorsen
Service Number: Lieut / 425
Place of Birth: Kadina
Date of Birth: 8 June 1896
Place of Enlistment: Keswick
Date of Enlistment: 9 June 1915
Age at Embarkation: 19
Marital status: Single
Next of Kin: Mother – Mrs Elizabeth Thorsen, Kadina
Occupation: Miner
Religion: Salvation Army
Rank: Drummer 32nd Battalion, B Company.
West Adelaide Football Club involvement:
Clarence played 7 games for WAFC in 1922. He made his debut on 6 May 1922.
Biographical details:
Clarence was the son of Thomas Thorsen and Elizabeth Templer. His unit embarked on two ships. The National Australian Archives war service record for C.R. Thorsen states, “The 32nd Battalion embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on two ships, HMAT A2 Geelong, on 18 November 1915, and HMAT A13 Katuna on 24 November 1915. The Embarkation Roll does not distinguish between these ships, and it is therefore not possible from the Embarkation Roll to ascertain on which ship an individual embarked.”
Clarence was absent from all parades on 20 December and had to forfeit 7 days’ pay. His unit was sent to France on 6 July 1916, with Clarence transferring to the 8th Light Trench Mortar 32nd Battalion on 25 July. He was again absent without leave on 7 and 8 August and fined a day’s pay. He attended Trench Mortar School in the field on 18 September. Clarence sustained a gunshot wound to the back and neck during action in France on 3 May 1917 and treated at the No.3 Casualty Clearing Station, and the General Hospital at Rouen, with his mother being advised on 19 May. He rejoined his unit from hospital on 8 July and was shortly after promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was then granted leave in Paris on 14 September. On 5 October he was selected to attend No.4 Officers Cadet Battalion.
On 31 October 1917 Clarence was awarded the Military Medal for “bravery in the field.” The award was published in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Number 66 of 2 May 1918.
Two weeks after his return to France from leave, Clarence was seconded for duty from 32nd Battalion to the 8th Australian Light Trench Mortar on 24 May 1918. He returned to Australia on RTA Devantia on 7 March 1919 and was discharged on 12 August 1919. Clarence died on 3 April 1971.
Source: NAA; B2455; Thorsen C R; Barcode 8390557.
Submitted 21 October 2023 by christopher collins
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