Clarke, Charles

No.955 – WOII Charles Clarke AAMC 4^th Battalion Tropical Force

Charles Clarke was born in Shropshire England on the 19^th February 1884 to George and Jane Clarke and was educated at school at Rossall. Charles served for three years in the 1^st Royal Lancashire Engineers and subsequently attended the Officers Training Corps in England. In 1910 he travelled to Australia with his wife Florence, taking up residence in 116 Hampton Rd Fremantle. After arriving Charles worked as a sick bay attendant and was also studying medicine.

On the 4^th September 1915 Charles offered his services to the AIF. He was given a medical examination and found to be 5 feet 8 ¾ inches in height; weight of 134 lbs; fresh complexion; brown eyes and fair hair. He also had the identifying marks of a Chinese Dragon on one arm and a flying dragon, locust beetle and coat of arms on the other arm. His religious denomination was Church of England.

Charles was assigned to the Australian Army Medical Corps WA section of the New Guinea Column and later the 4^th Battalion Tropical Force. He was also appointed Corporal and embarked with the Tropical Force on the 20^th November 1915. On the 6^th January he arrived at Rabaul and began his work as a medical orderly and saw through 1916 in this capacity. On the 12^th May 1917 Charles was transferred to the Wireless Section of the Tropical Force and continued in this role for the duration of the war. On the 13^th March 1919 he was appointed as a Clerk to the AAMC HQ in Rabaul. He was then appointed Sergeant and Warrant Officer No.II.

On the 17^th November 1919 he returned to Australia for a period of Furlough though returned to Rabaul in March 1920. In August 1920 he asked for a discharge which was granted and he returned to Western Australia later that month. On his return he was given a medical examination at No.8AGH in Fremantle and was found to be suffering badly from Malaria.

It is unknown what frame of mind he was in due to the bad Malaria attacks, but on the 16^th October 1920, Charles committed suicide by taking an overdose of Laudanum while under the influence of drink. Charles was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery Perth