Clarke, Arthur William

No.6255 – Private Arthur William Clarke – 11^th Battalion AIF

Arthur William Clarke was born in Hornsey vale London England in 1893 to Robert Clarke. He was educated in England and after leaving school became a farmhand in Hertfordshire. Seeking more opportunities he travelled to Western Australia and took up residence with his Aunt, Emma Clarke at 130 Alexander Road East Fremantle. Just prior to enlisting in the AIF he found work as a farm hand in Bunbury. On the 27^th March 1916 he offered his services to the AIF and in Bunbury was given a medical examination. He was passed as fit for enlistment with his details recorded as 5 feet 2 inches in height; weight of 150 lbs; chest measurement of 35 inches; fair complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Initially allotted to No.62 Depot, on the 1^st May 1916, Arthur was assigned to the 21^st Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. He stayed with this group until the 22^nd July when he was taken on strength of the 20^th Reinforcements to the 11^th Battalion. The next few months were spent in WA training with this unit. On the 18^th September 1916 he embarked from Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. “Clan MacGillivray”, arriving at Plymouth England on the 2^nd November 1916. After leaving the ship Arthur was sent to the 3^rd Training Battalion on the Salisbury Plains. He went AWOL for a brief period while in the training camp and was given the punishment of 48 hours detention and the forfeiture of 5 days pay.

On the 17^th December 1916, Arthur sailed from Folkestone and landed at Etaples France where he marched into the 1^st Australian Division Base Depot. He stayed here for a short period and was officially taken on strength of the 11^th Battalion on the 17^th January 1917. Arthur served through the next few months with the 11^th, serving in actions in the Hindenburg Outpost Line and at Lagnicourt on the 15^th April 1917. On the 3^rd May the 11^th Battalion became involved in the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt. They assisted the 2^nd Division to hold their objectives, though casualties were high and Arthur was listed as killed in action on the 6^th May 1917. No eyewitness statements have been found regarding his death and unfortunately Arthur’s body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial in France.

In his will he left his effects to Emma Jane Clarke of 130 Alexander Rd East Fremantle and his younger sister, Dorothy Lillian Elsie Clarke of 16A Fergusson Road, East Barnet, Hertfordshire England.