Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

BUSBRIDGE Clarence Wilfred_1316 MM

Clarence Wilfred BUSBRIDGE was the son of Annie BUSBRIDGE an was born on the 14th of December 1894 in Balaklava. There is no father recorded on his birth certificate.

His mother Annie married Samuel Thomas MARRIOTT on the 12th of February 1901 at his grandfather’s home, Mr James BUSBRIDGE, Jacob Street, Gawler.

His stepfather Samuel was the son of Oliver MARRIOTT & Sarah Chamberlain HALES and was born on the 23rd of July 1852 aboard the ship “China”, on route to South Australia.

Samuel was a widower with 3 children. He was previously married to Ellen MILL on the 20th of February 1884 in the Baptist Church, Hundred of Hall. They had 3 boys from 1885 to 1898, all born in Balaklava.

His wife Ellen had died from heart failure on the 9th of July 1998, just 6 days after the birth of their last son.

Clarence grew up in Balaklava

Clarence Wilfred BUSBRIDGE, enlisted into the 10th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements in Oaklands and was allotted the service number 1316. He was a blacksmith striker and listed his mother; Annie Marriott, of Balaklava as his next of kin.

Clarence was only 19 years of age when he enlisted.

Clarence embarked from Melbourne, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on the 2nd of February 1915 and disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt on the 7th of March 1915.

He marched to Mena Camp where they joined the 10th Battalion.

He sailed from Alexandrina to Lemnos Island aboard the “Ionian” where the battalion waited in the harbor from the 11th of April, awaiting their orders.

Clarence’s unit was in the first wave of the Gallipoli landing. They fought on the Peninsula until the 24th of December 1915, when the 10th Battalion was evacuated.

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 10th Battalion returned to Egypt and, in March 1916, sailed for France and the Western Front.

The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozieres in the Somme valley in July. After Pozieres the battalion fought at Ypres in Flanders before returning to the Somme for winter. In 1917, the battalion returned to Belgium to take part in the major British offensive of that year - the Third Battle of Ypres.

In March and April 1918 the 10th Battalion helped stop the German spring offensive and was then involved in the operations leading up to the Allied counter-stroke.

On the 24th of April 1918, in the attack on Meteren, Clarence suffered a gun shot wound to his right buttock which moved up into his back.

He remained in hospital for 10 weeks.

He rejoined his unit in the Merris Sector, on the 20th of July.

Clarence was attached to “A Company” and on the 8th of August they were at “Crepey Wood”.

On the morning of the 10th they were disposed to move 1000 yards in the rear to support the 9th Battalion. The 9th Battalion came under heavy attack and appeared to be in trouble. The 9th Battalion required assistance to clear up the situation in Crepey Wood.

Clarence was dispatched to one of the four posts held by A Company.

At 4pm they received heavy enemy bombardment and two of the four “A Company” posts were completely blown up. The posts occupied by the 9th Battalion were evacuated and only two A Company posts remained.

Clarence was one of 9 remaining men drive the enemy back, leaving 90 enemy dead.

For this, he was recommended for the Military Medal on the 19th of August 1918.

For this devotion of duty, Clarence received the Military Medal.

Dispatch read - For great gallantry and devotion to duty in operations before LIHONS between the 8th and 10th of August 1818. Corporal BUSBRIDGE fought with great determination throughout and was one of the few men left in a post which although greatly out numbered held up the enemy attack for nearly an hour until reinforcements restored the situation.

On the 14th of September he suffered shell shrapnel to his knee and was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital, Rouen.

He rejoined his unit and on the 1st of October 1918.

The battalion continued operations until late September 1918.

At 11am on the 11th of November 1918, the guns fell silent.

Clarence returned to Australia on board the “Burmah” on the 13th of February 1919 and discharged on the 14th of April 1919 and returned to Balaklava.

*His oldest brother Reginald James BUSBRIDGE (48th Battalion) was killed by mortar shelling in Messines, they were located near Bon Fermier Gully on the 9th of June 1917.

*His stepbrother Thomas Oliver Hales MARRIOTT (43rd Battalion, D Company) was killed by mortar shelling at Allanes, near Mont St Quentin on the 1st of September 1918.

In 1939 he lived at 90 Hawker Street, Croyden and was a metal worker.

In 1967 he lived at 30 Bosanquet Avenue, Prospect

He married Ruby Gertrude STIGGANTS on the 1st of October 1921 in College Park.

Clarence died on the 23rd of June 1974, aged 79 years. He is buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery; Section L, Path JJ, Plot 25.

Ruby died on the 3rd of April 1993, aged 93 years. She is buried in the Dudley Park Cemetery; Section L, Path JJ, Plot 25, with Clarence.

They had 2 children