CLARKE, Lennox Thomas Hallett
| Service Number: | 5055 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 December 1915, Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 12 March 1891 |
| Home Town: | Mackay, Mackay, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | War Related Injuries, Kennedy Hospital, Bowen, Queensland, Australia, 14 July 1921, aged 30 years |
| Cemetery: |
Bowen General Cemetery, Qld SHEET 1 05.11.02, Grave 805 - UNMARKED GRAVE |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5055, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 5055, 3rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Makarini embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 1 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 5055, 3rd Infantry Battalion, SS Makarini, Sydney |
Help us honour Lennox Thomas Hallett Clarke's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Thomas CLARKE and Alice Rosina Kathleen nee COBBY, Pocoys, Tidmouth, Devonshire, England
On Friday week last there was laid to rest in that God’s acre just over the Hill, sacred to Bowen, the remains of one who may well be termed “A stranger amongst us.”
No 5055, Private Lennox Thomas Hallett Clarke, 3rd Battalion, A l F enlisted from Finch Hatton near Mackay, in the early part of 1915. Sent on to France, he was present in every battle taken part by the “Aussies,” including the actions of Polygon Wood, Pozieres, Loos, Messiues, Bullecourt, Passchendale and Mont St Quentin. When during the falling back of Sir Hubert Gough’s sth Army before an overwhelming force of Germans, and the Australians were pushed into the front of the gap thus made. A British Tommy made this remark ‘‘lts no use ‘Aussies’ they are too strong for us.”’ Private Clarke was heard to remark ‘‘Oh, well ! We’ll give them a go for it anyway,” and the Australians did to such good purpose that the German advance was held up sufficiently long to enable the Allied reinforcements to arrive, and im their turn drive back the Germans, and thus save Paris, the nearest approach to being invaded that the Great War provided.
Born in Brisbane, of parents hailing from Devonshire, England and of a family attached to the soil, eventually drifting into the cultivation of sugar. He also took a prominent part in the movement during its rise to political power, being at one time A. W. U. Representative for Finch Hatton District. Since his demobilisation however he openly expressed his disgust at the methods of the labour leaders, and cut himself adrift altogether from the movement.
His war service lasted until the Armistice. Having been wounded and gassed he returned to Australia a physical wreck though just able to work. Trying the South-West of New South Wales in search of health, he drifted, back to Mackay and thence to Proserpine, where he was compelled to cease from work and went into Townsville Hospital. After a short time there and realising that his case was hopeless, he craved to be near his friends in Bowen and Proserpine, aud was transferred to the Kennedy Hospital, which he greatly appreciated aud admired. His end was somewhat sudden and painless.
The funeral left the residence of Mr Warburton, Gordon Street the body being taken possession of and escorted by a body of returned men who walked in rank immediately behind the hearse. They were—
No 3448 Private J, Smith, 41st Battalion, No 502N, Driver C. 0, Clayton, A.A.M.C., No 3382, Ser geant Major D. K. Smith, 5th Light Horse, No 3337 Sergeant E. R. Atkinson, 31st Battalion, and No 596 Private F. Ball 52nd Battalion, the latter on a flying visit to Bowen from Finch Hatton.
Arriving at the cemetery as the sun was just westerning on a typical North Queensland spring like day, the body was met by the Rev Charles Large, Minister in charge of the Bowen Presbyterian Church, who also served during the war as No 5426, Private C. Large 20th Battalion. A feeling and forceful rendering of the burial service was closed by the sounding of “The Last Post” by Private J. Smith, 41st Battalion, formerly Bandmaster of the Bowen Town Band, the pathetic notes of which were most affect ing as they floated way o’er the calm and peaceful Queensland landscape, is such strong contrast to the scenes gdne through by the wasted form so calmly resting in it’s last “shell hole.”
“And little he'll rack, if they let him sleep on, In the grave where true Britons laid him. '
And such was the end at the age of 30 years, of as plucky and fearless an Englishman as "Albion” ever sent forth. Though only a light weight physically, he was grit every ounce, and true as steel. Despite his long and strenuous Army service, he never rose above the rank of private, he left as he entered, neither seeking praise nor decoration, not fearing blame and being outspoken to the last. Subscriptions are being collected at Finch Hatton and Proserpine to wards erecting a suitable headstone over the grave, of such a doughty warrior. Several beautiful wreaths were forwarded.