CLARKE, Lawrence Eric
| Service Numbers: | 2852A, S2660 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 May 1915, Keswick |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 47th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Parkside, South Australia, 8 June 1895 |
| Home Town: | Goodwood, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Prince Alfred College |
| Occupation: | Articled law clerk |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Unley Park, 29 May 1985, aged 89 years |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Members of the Legal Profession & Students at Law WW1 Honour Board, Unley South Park Bowling Club Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion, Keswick | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2852A, 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2852A, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Adelaide | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Involvement 27th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked 27th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Adelaide | |
| 27 Aug 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 47th Infantry Battalion, Medical discharge |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Lieutenant, S2660 | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 1942: | Discharged | |
| 18 Aug 1942: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, S2660 | |
| Date unknown: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant, S2660 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide High School
Lawrence Eric Clarke was born in Parkside, South Australia on the 8th of June 1895. His parents were Wesleyan Minister, Rev. William George and Emily Maria Clarke of Erskine Street, Goodwood Park. Due to his father moving parishes, Lawrence attended several primary schools including Clarendon and Glenelg. Lawrence joined the Voluntary Cadets when he was twelve. He was a Sergeant at Prince Alfred College. He spent two years in the 78th Infantry and six months in the 35th Australian Field Artillery Battery as a Corporal. Lawrence passed the senior public examinations and was a law student at University of Adelaide from 1913 to 1915. At the time of enlisting, he was an articled law clerk, articled to G. M. Evans Esq.
Lawrence enlisted in May 1915 at Keswick Barracks, and he remained in South Australia to complete his Officer training. From the 9th to the 30th of June 1915, Lawrence was in the 11th Company in the 9/10 Battalion. Then on the 16th of August, he was transferred to B Company in the 35th Battalion. On the 1st of September, he was transferred to N group in the 6/27th Infantry Battalion and on the 9th of September, he applied for, and was granted, commission in the A.I.F. as a Second Lieutenant. He was not Taken on Strength of the 27th Battalion but was transferred to the 47th Battalion.
He embarked Adelaide on the HMAT Mongolia on the 9th of March 1916 and headed to Egypt. In May 1916 Lawrence caught dysentery whilst in Serapheum (Serapeum) Egypt, which led to him developing acute rheumatism in his shoulders, ankles, and feet. On the 30th of May he was admitted to hospital for treatment. On the 5th of July 1916, he left the Suez on the ship Karoola for six months treatment as an invalid in Australia. He arrived in Melbourne on the 3rd of August and then travelled back to Adelaide.
On the 14th of September 1916, despite improving, he was declared unfit for active service due to his history of acute rheumatism. It was recommended that his officer’s commission in the A.I.F. as a Second Lieutenant be terminated on the 27th of September. He was struck off strength from the 5th of July 1916 and medically discharged from the army on the 5th of October 1916.
After leaving the Army, Lawrence returned to his career in law. Justice Clarke was admitted to the South Australian Bar in 1920, and by 1923 he was working at Eagle Chambers in King William Street, Adelaide as a barrister and a solicitor. On the 25th of August 1923, the Army wrote to Lawrence that he had not seen active service to warrant a Victory Medal and asked that he return the medal. Lawrence was Deputy Registrar of Probates for South Australia from 1930 to 1934. He was appointed as a Magistrate in 1934 and as the Chief Stipendiary Magistrate of the Adelaide Police Court from 1950 to 1965. His career highlight was serving as the acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 1960. Lawrence passed away in 1985, aged 89, leaving behind his wife, Olive.
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