Clare, Clarence Malcolm

No.136 – Corporal Clarence Malcolm Clare – 44^th Battalion AIF

Clarence Malcolm Clare was born in Coolgardie WA in 1895 to William and Lavinia Clare. Soon after his birth the family moved to the Perth area and set up residence in Cottesloe Beach (Mosman Park). Clarence went to Cottesloe State School and after leaving took up work as a Printer’s Machinist in Fremantle. Clarence also spent two years in the 86^th Infantry Regiment. During the early war years he spent time on Rottnest Island as a guard to the German internees.

Clarence enlisted into the AIF on the 16^th January 1916 and after being given a medical examination was passed as fit. The medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 4 inches tall; weight of 117 lbs; chest measurement of 32-34 inches; fresh complexion; brown eyes and light brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Clarence was initially allotted to No.1 Area Depot camp and then assigned to the 1^st Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion. This was soon changed and Clarence joined the 44^th Battalion in “A” Company and the regimental No.136. His brother Alfred was also a member of the original 44^th Battalion.

The 44^th Battalion trained at Claremont Camp until the end of May, for on the 6^th June 1916 they departed Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Suevic”. On the voyage Clarence was admonished by the CO for gambling but they finally arrived in Plymouth England on the 21^st July 1916 and were marched into the 3^rd Division training grounds on the Salisbury Plains. They were in England until late November 1916, for on the 25^th they embarked from Southampton for France.

On arrival in France they were sent to the Armentieres region where they would spend their first few months. After that period was over they were transferred to the Ploegsteert sector near Messines. On June 7^th 1917 the 44^th Battalion took part in the Battle of Messines and the German lines were captured though heavy casualties resulted due to artillery fire. Clarence survived the initial assault but was wounded in the hand on the 25^th June 1917. He was evacuated back to the 18^th General Hospital at Camiers and was then shipped back to England where he was admitted to the King George Military Hospital. On the 23^rd July he was transferred to the 3^rd Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. Four days later he was transferred to the infantry depot at Weymouth to convalesce. Several months were spent in England at depots at Weymouth and Hurdcott. In April 1918 he was sent to the 9^th Training Battalion at Fovant. Returning to France in June he was sent to the 41^st Battalion AIF, though on the 9^th July had transferred back to the 44^th.

On August 8^th 1918 the large offensive against the Germans was launched, the 44^th Battalion advancing from Hamel. Casualties for the 44^th were relatively light though during the early stages of the attack Clarence was shot and killed. His mates buried him just east of Hamel and marked his grave with a cross.

After the war the war graves parties recovered Clarence and laid him to rest in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery in plot III.C.10. His brother Alfred survived the war and came home in 1919