Clarkson, Cecil Phillip
7454 Private Cecil Phillip Clarkson - 51st Battalion AIF
Cecil Phillip Clarkson was born at Petersham New South Wales on the 18th March 1893 to Phillip and Annie Clarkson. He had several siblings, Mildred (1889), Amy (1892), Reginald (1895), Bertie (1898), Elsie (1900), Dulcie, (1901), Doris (105) and Olive (1907). The Clarkson family came to Western Australian while Cecil was still young in 1900 and took up residence at 46 Attfield Street Fremantle (later renumbered 40 Attfield).
After completing his education in Fremantle, Cecil found employment as a clerk.
On the 15th January 1916 Cecil enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 9 inches;
Weight - 117 lbs;
Chest Measurement - 31-33 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Dark Brown.
Upon his successful enlistment Cecil was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp. He was initially assigned to the Australian Army Medical Corps and for the next year worked on the various camps in WA as a medical orderly.
On the 30th January 1917 Cecil was transferred into the 25th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for the next five months.
On the 29th June 1917 Cecil and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Borda. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 25th August 1917.
After being disembarked Cecil and his group were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He trained here for the next few months and then on the 2nd November 1917 was transferred to the 2nd Training Battalion at Sutton Veny Camp.
Cecil would have a few more months in England before being sent to France. On the 2nd March 1918 Cecil was reassigned units, as he would now be going to the 51st Battalion.
On the 8th March 1918 Cecil joined the 51st Battalion in Belgium. The unit were then situated just south east of Ypres near Hollebeke.
On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring offensive which broke through the British line further south in France. As a result, the Australian Divisions were sent south from Belgium to help stop this advance.
The 51st Battalion came into contact with the Germans at Dernancourt in late March/early April 1918. Along with other units they managed to stop the German advance.
On the 24th April 1918 the Germans captured Villers-Bretonneux and the 51st Battalion was one of the units tasked with the recapture. The Germans were successfully pushed out but during the assault Cecil was shot in the hand.
His wounds were dressed at the 4th Field Ambulance and was then sent to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport. He was in hospital here until the 2nd June 1918. His wound had healed quickly and Cecil rejoined the 51st Battalion on the 12th June 1918.
The 51st Battalion were still in the Villers-Bretonneux region when Cecil rejoined them and would be for the next several weeks.
On August 8th 1918 the Australian, British and Canadians launched a large offensive which pushed the Germans back. The next few months would be one of constant attacks against the Germans. The 51st Battalion were in action from August 8th to September 18th 1918. Cecil fought in all the Battalion engagements during this time.
They were then given a rest period out of the line and were about to return to the front line when the Armistice was announced.
On the 19th November 1918 Cecil was evacuated as he was suffering from influenza. He was admitted to the 9th General Hospital at Rouen. He remained there for a month before being sent to the Convalescent Camp. Cecil was sent to the Base Depot Camp after a few days and remained there for three weeks.
On the 17th January 1919 Cecil rejoined the 51st Battalion. He was with the 51st Battalion until the 5th April 1919 when he was transferred to England to await a transport ship home.
On the 4th June 1919 Cecil boarded the transport ship Bremen and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 16th July 1919.
Cecil was discharged from the AIF on the 16th August 1919.
In 1921 in Fremantle Cecil married Edith Kuser and in 1922 a daughter called Doreen was born. The family then went to live in Subiaco.
He then worked for the Royal Exchange Assurance Corporation in Perth, with the family living at 14 Hickey Avenue Daglish.
In April 1943 his wife Edith died and in 1945 he married Muriel Hope Wansbrough.
Cecil Clarkson died on the 15th May 1968 aged 75. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.