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Australia

Ethel Stowe St John CLARKE was born on the 7th of October 1880 at Yarraville, Richmond, Vic – the daughter of (Dr) Horatio St John CLARKE, F.R.C.S., J.P. and Margaret MacCALLUM, who married on the 22/9/1873 at St Peter’s Church, East Melbourne.  She was baptized at St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne, on the 24/12/1880.  Horatio, a Surgeon and J.P., died at their home in Victoria St, Richmond on the 29/6/1895, aged 76; Margaret died at Black Rock in Jan 1936.

Siblings (all born Yarraville, Richmond): *Katherine Muriel b.9/10/1874– d.29/7/1876, age 1yr 9mths; *Cyril Wilberforce b.24/2/1876 – Barrister and Solicitor – marr Elsie G. VAGG 1912 – WW1: Maj, 4th LH – d.8/12/1965; *May de la Pryme b.26/5/1877 – d.1955; *Horatio St John b.23/11/1878 – Farmer – WW1: Tpr 1208, 4th LH / Corps Cyclist Bn – d.31/7/1961

Ethel received her education at the Presbyterian Ladies College, matriculating in 1897, and Trinity College, Melbourne University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in December 1904.  She then pursued Secretarial and Teaching work, including Organizing Secretary (Vic) for the New Guinea Anglican Mission (1905), Secretary of the Church of England Society for the Visitation of the Sick (1910, 1912).  During these years she lived with her mother at Tough Street, Hawthorn.  In 1915 she went on a visit to India.

WW1 Service:
In 1942 Ethel wrote to Base Records enquiring about war medals, and stated that she had “left Australia in 1915, served as a nursing VAD at St John’s Hospital in Mussourie, India till 1916 – was
transferred to the Somerville College Hospital, Oxford, and served as Unit Administrator in Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary from 1916 – 1920”

Having left India for England, she joined the British Red Cross Society on the 16/3/1917, and served as a VAD nurse at the 3rd Southern General Military Hospital (Somerville College), Oxford until the 3/11/1917.

On the 15/8/1917 she wrote from Ruskin College, Oxford to the Controller of the W.A.A.C.
Dear Madam,
I have followed with very keen interest the work the W.A.A.C. have been doing in France, and the appeal in a recent issue of the “Times”, for University women to act as Administrators, causes me to write for particulars as to duties, salary, etc.
I am a graduate of Trinity College, Melbourne and have had some considerable secretarial experience. Since the outbreak of war my time has been occupied as a V.A.D. nurse first in India, where I chanced to be on a visit – and then in England. The financial strain of the War, however, necessitates me undertaking more remunerative war work. I enclose a copy of a letter from the Archbishop of Melbourne and can furnish other recommendations.
Believe me, Yours truly, (SGD.) ETHEL ST JOHN CLARKE.

Ethel then joined the WAAC / QMAAC at the Connaught Club on the 3/12/1917, and was posted to a Hostel in London.

Extract from a letter dated 20/12/1917, from the Unit Administrator, Military Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey, to the Controller of Inspection:
“At the present I have two ladies under me for a course of training, and I wish to bring to your special notice, Miss Ethel St John-Clarke, who, during her stay here, has shown a good knowledge of the duties required by an Assistant Administrator, and if it were at all possible, and you have no objection, I would like to have her appointed as my Assistant here.”

Ethel was appointed Assistant Administrator, Military Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park Camp, Epsom, on the 31/12/1917

Appointed Deputy Administrator, 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall 29/4/1918
Transferred as Deputy Administrator (Acting Unit Administrator) from Southall to Sydenham Motor Transport Depot, A.S.C., on the 30/5/1918
Appointed Deputy Administrator (Acting Unit Administrator) M.T. Depot, Sydenham 6/6/1918, and promoted to Unit Administrator in July. Sick Leave 9/11/1918 to 13/11/1918. Granted 14 days Sick Leave from 19/1/1919. Recommended 14 days Sick Leave from 12/5/1919.
Temporary duty at Kingston on Thames from 28/5/1919
Transferred from Kingston on Thames to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford 9/7/1919
Unit Administrator, Bostall Heath – granted 28 days Sick Leave as from 17/10/1919
Her services were no longer required as from the 14/11/1919, and following 33 days Service Leave, termination of her engagement took effect on the 18/12/1919

In 1919 she was noted as completing a course at the School of Economics

Ethel eventually returned to Australia on the Ormonde, embarking 20/3/1920

Post war appointments:
Girls’ High School, Calcutta, India
Head of the Junior Department New England Girls’ School, Armidale, NSW
Headmistress of the newly opened St Faith’s School, Yeppoon, Qld 1923 (resigned in the Nov due to ill health following a very strenuous year)
Headmistress of The Umpherston Collegiate School for Girls’, Mount Gambier, SA, 1924 (resigned in Dec to proceed to Oxford)

Embarked in Melbourne on the Jervis Bay, and arrived Southampton, England 30/1/1925

Headmistress of the Girls’ High School, Mount Carmel, Palestine 1926
Headmistress of the Springwood Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, NSW, 1927
Headmistress of the Diocesan School in Southern India 1928

In 1930 it was “announced that Miss Ethel St John-Clarke, a graduate of Trinity College, Melbourne, has been appointed by the Government of India to the office of guardian to the three orphan daughters of the late Maharajah of Bharatpur.”

June 1933: “Ethel St John Clarke is back in Melbourne after a sojourn in Asia. She was headmistress of a girls’ school at Assam. She returns to stay awhile with her mother, Mrs H. St John Clarke, who lives at Black Rock.”

Embarked Melbourne 25/9/1934 on the Maloja for India
In 1936 Ethel embarked at Capetown, Sth Africa on the Armadale Castle and arrived Southampton, England on the 27/4/1936
Living Yarra Grove, Hawthorn in 1942
President of the ex-servicewomen’s sub-branch of the R.S.L., Melbourne 1946

Ethel died on the 29th of August 1964 at Hawthorn, Vic, aged 83, and was cremated at Springvale Cemetery on the 1/9/1964, her ashes were collected and buried in the family grave at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, on the 25/9/1964 [Ref: CofE C, Graves 1070, 1071]

*************

The Argus (Melb, Vic), Thur 11 Nov 1880 (p.1):
BIRTHS
CLARKE – On the 7th ult., at Yarraville, Richmond, the wife of H. St John Clarke of a daughter.

The Argus (Melb, Vic), Sat 25 Dec 1897 (p.9):
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
MATRICULATION EXAMINATION – NOVEMBER 1897
NAMES OF SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES
Clarke, Ethel Stowe St John, P.L.C.; ………………………

The Australasian (Melb, Vic), Sat 29 Dec 1900 (p.37):
ANNUAL EXAMINATION, DECMEBER 1900
First Year Arts – Passed – ……………………. Ethel Stowe St John Clarke (Trinity College), ………………..

The Argus (Melb, Vic), Tue 6 Dec 1904 (p.7):
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
DEGREES CONFERRED
At a meeting of the Council of the University yesterday the following degrees were conferred on various candidates who were successful at the recent annual examinations of the Melbourne University. …………………
Bachelor of Arts – Ethel Stowe St John Clarke, …………

The Bendigo Independent (Vic), Sat 7 Jan 1905 (p.3):
RELIGION AND TEMPERANCE
Miss E.S. St John Clarke, B.A., has been appointed to succeed Miss Keighly Marks as secretary in Victoria of the New Guinea Anglican Mission.

Punch (Melb, Vic), Thur 27 Oct 1910 (p.29):
VISITATION OF THE SICK
In aid of the Church of England Society for the Visitation of the Sick, …………………, and Miss St John Clarke, the secretary of the society. ………………………

Weekly Times (Melb, Vic), Sat 17 Feb 1912 (p.13):
UNSELFISH FELLOWSHIP – ANGLICAN WOMEN
An organisation whose members are working systematically and without ostentation to bring a little light and gladness to the poor and afflicted is the Society for the Visitation of the Sick, inaugurated by Archbishop Clarke about two years ago.
It was felt that something was needed to create an interest and sympathy in the ministrations to the sick and needy lying helpless in our hospitals, and the Rev. Evelyn Snodgrass and the Rev T.C. Robinson volunteered for service. Six months had scarcely elapsed before the chaplains felt the necessity for sympathetic woman workers. They themselves could minister to the spiritual needs, but it wanted a woman’s intuition, tact and kindliness to foster the practical side of the scheme.
Light in the Dark
Accordingly Miss Ethel St John Clarke, a conscientious worker in all charitable movements in connection with the Anglican Church, was elected hon. secretary, and women were induced to interest themselves in the movement. ……………………………….
[Photo]
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223906246

The Herald (Melb, Vic), Tue 23 Jan 1917 (p.7):
THE SOCIAL CIRCLE
Miss E. St John Clarke, of Hawthorn, who has been engaged in Red Cross work in India, has gone to London.

The Herald (Melb, Vic), Tue 29 May 1917 (p.3):
THE SOCIAL CIRCLE
Included in the list of Melbourne women doing war work in England are ……; Miss E. St John Clarke, who is at a military hospital in Oxford, ………….

Weekly Times (Melb, Vic), Sat 13 Apr 1918 (p.9):
Arrivals and Departures
Miss E. St John Clarke, of Hawthorn, who went to England two years ago to do war work, is now doing administrative work in connection with the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps, at Epsom, England

The Week (Brisbane, Qld), Fri 13 Jul 1923 (p.5):
The Social Circle
Miss St John Clarke arrived from the north this week on a visit and is staying at Montpelier.

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), Fri 14 Dec 1923 (p.8):
ST FAITH’S SCHOOL
The vacancy in the position of Headmistress of St Faith’s School, Yeppoon, caused by the resignation of Miss St John Clarke, B.A., has been filled by the appointment of Miss K.M. Lilley, M.A.

Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), Tue 22 Jan 1924 (p.4):
Umpherston Girls’ School
The Teaching Staff
The committee of management has been fortunate in securing two competent ladies as instructors for the school. Miss Ethel St John Clarke, B.A., a graduate of Trinity College, Melbourne, who has accepted the post of head-mistress, has had a wide experience as an educationalist, not only in Australia, but in India and the Old Land. She is described as a lady of exceptional personality and organising ability, and this fact is borne out by the splendid testimonials she has presented. Apart from her educational qualifications, which are of a high order, Miss St John Clarke saw experience during the Great War as a V.A.D. nurse in India and England, and the credentials she possesses in this regard form an eloquent tribute to her capability as an organiser and administrator. She was unit administrator in Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps for two years, and while in England attended a course on school hygiene at the Royal Sanitary College, London. As officer in charge of the unit she had a large body of women to control, but discharged her duties with such success that her corps came to be regarded at headquarters as one of the best run in the Eastern Command. Her four years’ war experience has stook Miss Clarke in excellent stead, for the scholastic credentials she has since obtained speak highly of her qualifications as a head-mistress, and of the successes she has won with the children placed under her care. She has been connected successively with the Girls’ High School, Calcutta, India, the New England Girls’ School, New South Wales (head of the junior house), and St Faith’s School, Yappoon, Queensland (head-mistress), from which latter appointment she now comes to Mount Gambier. Miss Clarke is a daughter of the late Dr H.S. St John Clarke, F.R.C.S., England, and, as mentioned above, holds the highest credentials.

Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), Fri 15 Feb 1924 (p.2):
UMPHERSTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL
FIRST TERM OPENS
The Umpherston Collegiate School for Girls’ re-opened on Tuesday, after the Christmas vacation. The principal (Miss E. St John Clarke, B.A.), and her assistant, Miss S. James (kindergarten teacher), who interviewed the parents of quite a number of new scholars on Saturday and Monday, were in attendance, and it was not long before the classes settled down to their regular routine. The school opened with a roll call of 43, of whom approximately one-half are scholars in the upper grades. A further accession to the ranks is expected. Miss Clarke, who lays emphasis on the value of religious instruction, has introduced several innovations, one of which consists of a short morning service in St Andrew’s Sunday-school hall, in which the whole school joins. The head-mistress is re-grading the scholars, and when this has been completed the classes will set out on the work of the term. ………
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/77714316

Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld), Wed 14 May 1924 (p.7):
ANGLICAN SYNOD
Detailed accounts of the progress of the two schools during 1923, will be found in the two reports subjoined from the Headmaster of St Peter’s and Miss E. St John Clarke, B.A., lately headmistress of St Faith’s, respectively. The resignation of Miss St John Clarke as headmistress of St Faith’s demands special attention. Miss St John Clarke’s year of work was, perhaps, even more difficult and arduous than is generally the case at the starting of a new school, and, in November last, acting under medical advice, she tendered her resignation to the Board. The Board shares the general regret at the cause of her resignation and offers her, in the name of all interested in our school scheme, its best wishes for her restoration to health and for all happiness in her future career.

Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA), Tue 27 Jan 1925 (p.2):
Umpherston Collegiate School – ………………………
The school council has been particularly fortunate in the matter of the appointment of a headmistress to succeed Miss E. St John Clarke, who resigned at Christmas in order to proceed to Oxford. ……………

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW), Thur 13 Jan 1927 (p.4):
DISTINGUISHED TEACHER
Miss Ethel St John Clarke, the new headmistress of the Springwood Church of England Girls’ Grammar School, who will come into residence at the end of January, is a bachelor of arts of the Melbourne University, and a member of the University of Oxford, where she gained a special diploma for geography in the School of Geography connected with that university. She has only recently returned from Palestine, where she had the good fortune to spend a school year, having been asked, while in London, to take charge of the Girls’ High School on Mount Carmel during the ill-health and enforced absence of the headmistress. Being in London during the war, Miss St John Clarke became a V.A.D. nurse, and was sent to St John of Jerusalem’s Hospital, Mussourie, India, and then to Somerville College Hospital, Oxford. Later on she became unit administrator of Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps. Before returning to Australia last September Miss St John Clarke spent some time visiting a few of the foremost schools in England, where she was given every opportunity of observing methods of organisation and administration. Cheltenham, Rocalan, Brighton, Wycombe Abbey, Wantage, and Oxford High School were among those visited.

Sunday Times (Sydney, NSW), Sun 23 Sept 1928 (p.26):
ANGLICAN NOTES
Miss Ethel St John Clarke, formerly headmistress of the Church School for Girls at Springwood (New South Wales), has gone to India as headmistress of a diocesan school in Southern India.

The Australian Woman’s Mirror, 15 Apr 1930 (p.20):
Women in the World
“A.M.T.”: It has been announced that Miss Ethel St John-Clarke, a graduate of Trinity College, Melbourne, has been appointed by the Government of India to the office of guardian to the three orphan daughters of the late Maharajah of Bharatpur. Miss St John-Clarke has had educational experience in England, Palestine and India, and during the war she served as a senior officer in the Queen Mary auxiliary corps.

The Bulletin, 14 Jun 1933 (p.33):
Melbourne Chatter
Ethel St John Clarke is back in Melbourne after a sojourn in Asia. She was headmistress of a girls’ school at Assam. She returns to stay awhile with her mother, Mrs H. St John Clarke, who lives at Black Rock. The lady has had an adventurous career. She was a V.A.D. worker in England in 1914-18, and became senior officer in the W.A.A.C. After returning to Australia she went to Palestine. One of her most interesting experiences was her term as guardian to the three orphan Princesses of Bharatpur, royalties of Rajputana.

The Herald (Melb, Vic), Sat 22 Sept 1934 (p.7):
PERSONAL
Lieut-Col Sir John Seymour-Lloyd, K.B.E., C.M.G., K.C., is returning to London in the Maloja, which leaves Melbourne on Tuesday. …………………………
Miss E. St John-Clarke, of Yaungera, Black Rock, will join the vessel in Melbourne for India.

The Argus (Melb, Vic), Fri 1 Mar 1946 (p.2):
THANKS FOR TOYS
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ARGUS
Sir: The following letter just received may interest other senders of toys to the children of Britain under the Lord Mayor’s appeal:
I do feel I would like to write to you on behalf of our children, to thank you very much for the jolly toy you kindly sent at Christmas, and for all your good wishes. We were the fortunate school to receive your gift – in fact, we had 14 toys sent to us. We are the largest school in Croydon, with 535 children, and so our decision is to keep the toys in school, so that they may all have a chance of playing with them. I do wish you could have seen the babies’ faces when we took the toys into their class-room – their eyes nearly came out like organ-stops! You would have thought it certainly well worth your kind thought, they were so thrilled. Our best wishes, and our thanks for the very nice lot of happiness which many little ones will have during the year. (Sgd) N.F. Hawkes, Head Mistress.
E.S. ST JOHN CLARKE (Hawthorn).

The Argus (Melb, Vic), Thur 3 Mar 1949 (p.8):
The Life of Melbourne
At the meeting yesterday of the Women’s Section of the Royal Empire Society, Lady Dixon, president, was presented with an enlargement of a portrait of Princess Elizabeth by Miss E. St John Clarke.
A unit administrator of Queen Mary’s Army auxiliary during the war, Miss Clarke received the original signed portrait from the Princess through her lady-in-waiting. It will be hung in the society’s rooms.

The Age (Melb, Vic), Sat 28 Mar 1953 (p.2):
LETTERS to the EDITOR
Queen Mary Inspired the Women’s Army Corps
Sir, – It is of interest at this time to recall the former leadership given by Queen Mary to women’s pioneer work in the Army.
During World War 1, when the national danger became grave, the War Office called for women to enrol for the auxiliary Army Services. The Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps was accordingly formed.
These “strange new women in khaki” excited comment, and were greeted by malicious rumors and often insulted in the streets of London.
Queen Mary, having confidence in women’s power and willingness to help, no matter what the danger, inquired into the rumors. All were proved groundless.
Queen Mary then became commander in chief of the corps, which became known as Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps. How proudly we put up our new badges surmounted by the Royal Crown.
Respect now took the place of gibes, and help was generously offered to those administering this strange, and oftimes difficult, pioneer army of women.
The corps prospered and grew in strength, with the result that 50,000 men were freed for service in the front line in France.
When the war clouds were again gathering in 1937, Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan, who served with distinction in Q.M.A.A.C., sought and obtained permission to train a band of women as officers.
Consequently, when war was declared in 1939, the Auxiliary Territorial Service (A.T.S.) was formed at once, with a full strength of officers.
Now the A.T.S. has been disbanded and replaced by the permanent Women’s Army, with its officers’ training school at Aldershot and its representative among Queen Elizabeth’s aides de camp.
Queen Mary had the gratification of knowing that her confidence in a woman’s army was justified beyond the dreams of many.
Yours, &c., ETHEL S. ST. JOHN CLARKE (Ex Unit Administrator, Q.M.A.A.C., Hawthorn).

Notes:
Her birth date taken from St Peter’s Eastern Hill Baptisms Register, where she was baptized on the 24/12/1880, also confirmed from newspaper birth notice – birth registered in 1881

British Red Cross Card:
Her British Red Cross Card shows that she was engaged as a VAD Nurse with the British Red Cross Society on the 16/3/1917, and served at the 3rd Southern General Military Hospital, Oxford until the 3/11/1919 [sic]. However, the card was filled out on the 3/6/1919, so the termination date could not be later than this, and was probably meant to be the 3/11/1917.

QMAAC Service Record contains 73 pages badly fire and water damaged from WW2 bombing

Nurse
Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps

Born 7th October 1880
Daughter of Horatio St. John CLARKE and Margaret nee McCALLUM
Departed Australian 1915 to work with Voluntary Aid Detachments in India
Later she went to England and worked at Somerville College Hospital, later on she was an Administrator with Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary.
Returned to Australia 25 March 1920 per 'Ormonde' for NSW
Resided 'Yarra Grove' Hawthorn, Melbourne in 1942
Did not marry
Died 29 August 1964 in Vic.
Resided Hawthorn, Vic.
Cremated Springvale Botanical Cemetery - ashes buried at Boroondara Cemetery Kew.