Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Laurence Eric Clarke was born on 8th June 1985 at Parkside, the son of Rev William George Clarke and Emily (Emmie) Maria Nock (SA Birth Registration 565/224). William, a Methodist minister, was in charge of the Kooringa Circuit (Burra) then the Clarendon Circuit when Laurence was young.

Schooling

Initially Laurence was privately schooled before he commenced at the Burra School on 4th December 1900. The family left Burra in March 1902 and moved to the Coromandel Valley area.

In 1908 Laurence commenced at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide and later that year he passed his Primary Examinations, followed by Junior Examinations in 1909.

Laurence came second in the 110 yards flat and the 440 yards flat at the PAC Sports in April 1911. He played in the First Eighteen Football team for PAC in 1911 against Adelaide University and St Peters College and went on the team’s trip to Melbourne to play Wesley College, Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School.

Laurence completed two years in the Cadets and two years in the Senior Cadets prior to joining the Citizens Forces. He was with the 35th Battery Field Artillery before joining the 78th Infantry.

Laurence passed Special Senior Examinations in English Literature, Algebra & Geometry, Geometry and Trigonometry having studied with Mrs Dorsch in March 1912 and in December 1912 he Passed Senior Examinations in Latin.

University

In 1913 Laurence commenced studying for his law degree at Adelaide University and passed examinations toward his degree in 1913 and 1914. He was studying in the 1915 year but joined up in on 31st May 1915. Laurence recommenced his studies in 1917 and was awarded his LLB in 1920.

University Sport

Football

Laurence played for the Adelaide University Football Club in 1914. His only match located in the currently digitised newspapers was an A Grade pre-season match against North Adelaide in April 1914.
Athletics
Laurence won the 440 yards flat at the Adelaide University Sports in 1914.

World War I

Laurence enlisted on the 31st May 1915 aged 20 years, he was 5’ 10¾“, and 155 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. His father, Rev W.G. Clarke of Erskine Street, Parkside was listed as his next of kin. Laurence received his commission on 16th September 1915. While many from his unit embarked on the HMAT A24 Benalla on 27 October 1915, some of the unit, including Laurence did not depart until 1916. Before leaving for overseas service Laurence was in charge of guard of honour, composed of 100 men from the 10th reinforcements of the 27th Battalion which welcomed home returned soldiers in February 1916.

Laurence embarked from Adelaide on the H.M.A. T. “Mongolia” on 9th March 1916 and arrived at the Suez on 4th April 1916. He contracted severe dysentery and rheumatic fever while serving in the Sinai Desert. His own brief description of his service is in the letter (see document).

Due to illness Laurence returned to Australia onboard the H.S. “Karoola” on 5 July 1916. His appointment was terminated on 27 September 1916 as medically unfit for active service.

On the 29th August 1916 Laurence Eric Clarke married Olive May Maslin the third daughter of Mr P Maslin of NSW.

From at least October 1916, Laurence was representing the Military Department at various courts where claims for exemption from Military Service were being heard.

In December 1916, Laurence was living at Unley Park and registered an 18.2 Delaunay Belleville Motor Cycle.

In January 1917, Laurence was selected to fill the position of Recruiting Officer, for the “Angus A, Gawler” area. Laurence recommenced as a member of the Citizens Forces and in December 1917 he was appointed a lieutenant (temporary) for the duration of the war in the 74th (Boothby) Infantry.

In June 1917 Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (newspaper) reported that Mr Byron Gregory had sold his fine 30 acre vine property at Block C Renmark to Lieut. L.E. Clarke, late of the 27th Battalion A.I.F. However it is clear from other mentions of Laurence in the newspapers that he did not work the property himself.

Career and Family Life

Laurence had returned to his studies of the law in 1917 and in May 1918 he was appointed acting associate to the Chief Justice of the South Australian Supreme Court. He held that position until November 1919 when F.B. McBryde returned from active service, Laurence then became the associate for Justice Poole.

In January 1920 Laurence and Olive purchased a house at Victoria Ave Unley Park. Mr J.G. Tenison Woods replaced Laurence as fourth associate and clerk of arraigns in the Supreme Court in March 1920 and Laurence was appointed third associate and clerk of arraigns. Laurence was awarded his LLB in 1920 and in April 1902 he was admitted to the Bar.

In August 1920, Laurence resigned his position as associate to Justice Buchanan at the Supreme Court to enter into private practice as a Barrister and Solicitor, at Eagle Chambers, King William Street, Adelaide.

In April 1924 Laurence and Olive left by the R.M.S. Maloja for a six month trip to England and the Continent. Olive, pictured below, was well known as Girl Guides’ Commissioner of the South Australian District. The couple left Southampton, England for Quebec, Canada on the 2nd August 1924 onboard the “Empress of France”. They were back in Australia by September 1924.

After nine years in private practice, Laurence returned to the Supreme Court as associate to Mr Justice Richards in November 1929. He was also appointed Clerk of Arraigns and in July 1930 was described as Custodian of Records, Supreme Court.

Laurence was appointed Deputy Registrar of Probates and in June 1931 he became Registrar of Probates. In 1932 he was recommended for appointment as a member of the Institute of Public Administration. Laurence’s career advanced further and in January 1934 he was appointed as a magistrate in the Police and Traffic Courts.

For sport, Laurence now played golf and tennis. He played golf regularly at Royal Adelaide and was a participant in the 1934 A.I.F. Cup. In December 1934 he played in a Law Students versus Lawyers tennis competition.

By 1935 Laurence was the Stipendiary Magistrate (SM) of the No 3 Police Court. Laurence and Olive do not appear to have had children, but in 1936, Olive’s niece, Miss Patricia Manton, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Manton, of Berowra came to live with the couple. Unfortunately during the 1935 -1936 period Laurence’s home at Victoria Avenue, Unley was broken into on three occasions. On the third occasion a fur was stolen.
In 1938 it was noted in ‘The Advertiser’ that Laurence was never seen without his walking cane.

When WWII broke out Laurence enlisted (SN S2660) on the 3rd September 1939 and was discharged on 18th August 1942. He held the rank of Lieutenant and Olive was his next of kin. According to a Press Statement made in 1960, “During the Second World War he was Chief Legal Officer, South Australian Area H.Q.(1939-1942) and Major, 2 Aust. Division H.Q. (1942)”. Laurence continued to serve as a Stipendiary Magistrate in South Australia throughout the entire period of WWII.

In later 1944 Laurence heard the case against Max Harris, who was charged with having sold, offered, or distributed certain indecent advertisements in the 1944 autumn number of “Angry Penguins”. The Ern Malley poems were part of a famous literary hoax and were written by conservative writers James McAuley and Harold Stewart in order to hoax Max Harris and his modernist magazine Angry Penguins.

In October 1947 a cartoonist for “The Mail” provided this caricature of Mr L.E. Clarke, S.M. after a court case involving a widow known as Ambrosina who was fined for using indecent language.

In July 1950, Laurence was appointed as the new Police Magistrate for South Australia with a salary of £1,450 per annum. He held this position until his retirement, aged 65, in mid 1960.

After retiring from his role as head of the Police Magistrates in South Australia, Laurence was appointed acting Judge for the Northern Territory, from 26 August 1960. (note – the press statement is inaccurate regarding Laurence’s WWI service as Laurence was only in the Sinai in April and May 1916.

Death

Olive May Clarke passed away on the 27th May 1978 and Laurence Eric Clark passed away on the 29th May 1985, aged 89 years. They were both cremated at Centennial Park, South Australia.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.