Clark, Frank

No.4773 – Private Frank Clark – 51^st Battalion AIF

Frank Clark was born in Bolton, Lancashire, England on the 12^th June 1881 to John and Elizabeth Clark. The 1891 census shows Frank as a nine year old living with his father at Little Lever Lancashire and in 1901 he was living with his step mother Mary in the same village. Unfortunately his father had passed away in 1899. Nothing more is known of his life until he moved to Western Australia pre World War One and took up work as a Baker. In 1916 he married Muriel Clark and took up residence at 31 East St East Fremantle. (Later renumbered to 7 East Street)

On the 18^th November 1915 Frank enlisted into the AIF and after being given a medical examination was passed as fit for the AIF. The examining doctor found Frank to be 5 feet 5 ½ inches tall; weight of 146 lbs; chest measurement of 35-37 inches; medium complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Presbyterian. Frank spent a month at No.56 Depot, and was then assigned to the 14^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion, and subsequently the 15^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. This group trained in WA until late March 1916. On the 1^st April 1916 the 15^th Reinforcements boarded the H.M.A.T. “Ulysses” at Fremantle and sailed for Egypt, reaching Alexandria on the 25^th April 1916. The men were disembarked and sent to the 3^rd Training Battalion.

On the 20^th May 1916 Frank was transferred from the 3^rd Training Battalion to the 13^th Training Battalion and sailed with them to France on the 7^th June 1916. After arriving in Marseilles on the 13^th June 1916, Frank was sent up to join the 4^th Australian Base Depot at Etaples. He was appointed Acting Corporal and put on the headquarters staff of the 4^th ADBD. Frank worked at the 4^th Australian Division Base Depot until April 1917 when he was transferred to the 51^st Battalion, being taken on strength on the 19^th April 1917. He reverted back to being a Private on joining the Battalion. Frank fought with the 51^st Battalion at Messines in June 1917 and through July and August held the line with them in the vicinity of Warneton.

In September Frank took part in the Third Battle of Ypres, getting through the initial battles safely he was killed in action at Passchendaele on the 12^th October 1917. He was given a battlefield burial and initially after the war his grave could not be located but it was finally found by war graves parties in the 1920’s. Frank was then buried in Divisional Collecting Post Cemetery II.H.21. By the time Frank had been located his widow Muriel had remarried to a returned soldier of the 28^th Battalion by the name of Joseph Black and she moved to Osborne Park.