Clinton, Peter Joseph
19047 - Sapper Peter Joseph Clinton - 15th Field Company Engineers
Peter Joseph Clinton was born in Fremantle WA on the 22nd October 1887 to Henry and Jessie Clinton. He was one of nine siblings including an older brother Daniel born in 1885 and two younger siblings, Jessie in 1889 and Sydney in 1893.
He was educated in Fremantle and Perth and after leaving school he took up training as a blacksmith.
He also had gained some military experience serving with the artillery in the Citizens Military Forces.
Peter's engineering and blacksmith work took him to Northwest WA for a period of time.
In 1915 Peter married Florence Emily McEwin and a son Ronald was born in 1916. They then moved to Victoria, setting up residence in Hawthorn.
On the 13th March 1917 Peter 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 10 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 154lbs;
Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Grey;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Peter was sent to the Engineers Depot Camp at Broadmeadows before being transferred to Seymour Camp. He was then sent to Sydney for further training at Moore Park. Peter was then put in an Engineering reinforcement group which sailed from Sydney Harbour on the 31st October 1917 aboard the transport ship Euripides.
After the long sea journey the ship arrived at Devonport Harbour on the 26th December 1917. After being disembarked Peter and his group were sent to the AIF camp at Parkhouse. He spent the next two months here and towards the end of February 1918 was sent to the engineers camp at Brightlingsea. Peter was here until the 12th April 1918. He was put in a draft of reinforcements for France, where upon arrival he was sent to the Australian Base Depot camp at Rouelles.
While here, Peter was told that he would be joining the 5th Australian Division and the 15th Field Company Engineers. He joined them on the day that the 15th Brigade helped recapture Villers Bretonneux, April 25th 1918.
The 15th Field Company Engineers would have been working on improving the trenches and defensive positions in the Villers-Bretonneux sector. Peter came through his first action unscathed.
The unit remained in this sector for the next few months. On August 8th 1918 the great advance on the Amiens front commenced when Australian, British and Canadian units broke the German line. For the next several weeks the 5th Australian Division continued with the advance, with the 15th Field Company following up the infantry.
Peter came through this period unscathed, at least he never reported wounded, but had continued to remain with his unit despite being affected by German gas attacks. In early October 1918 the 5th Division were pulled out of the line for a well deserved rest period. Peter was still with his unit when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918.
On the 23rd November 1918 Peter injured his shoulder while on duty. After it was initially treated at the 14th Field Ambulance he was sent onto the 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville. After a few weeks here he was transferred to the 40th Stationary Hospital at Le Havre.
On the 22nd January 1919 Peter embarked for England and was then admitted to Paddington Military Hospital in London. He remained there for several days and on the 3rd February 1919 was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford.
On the 20th February 1919 Peter was released from hospital and was granted a week's leave. He then returned on the 27th February and was given another week. This happened again on the 4th March, and his leave was extended to the 11th March 1919.
On his return, Peter was sent to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall. He only pent four days here and was then sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. He would now stay here, waiting to hear when he was assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 10th April 1919, peter boarded the transport ship Medic and set sail for Australia, reaching Melbourne on the 31st May 1919. After he arrived in Melbourne he reunited with his wife and they returned to Western Australia.
Peter was then discharged from the AIF in WA on the 24th March 1920.
After their return from Victoria, they moved to 19 Waugh Street North Perth. Sadly in 1920 Peter and Emily lost a child at birth. Further sad news happened in 1922 when Peter's wife Emily died.
Peter worked for Denny's brothers and also Canning Bridge Post office.
In 1924 Peter married Winifred Rose Black and they lived at Katanning for a few years and in 1927 they had a son called Lindsay.
Sadly on the 3rd November 1932 Winifred died in Perth.
In 1934 Peter re-married to Ellen Mary Sharkey and they moved to Summers Street in East Perth.
Sadley Peter died on the 17th December 1936. He was buried at Karrakatta Cemetery plot Roman Catholic AC 0087.
The Sunday Times published a small obituary on the 20th December 1936.