S4406
WINTERFIELD, Clarence John
| Service Number: | 3011 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 May 1916, Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Signal Squadron |
| Born: | Allandale East, South Australia, 12 February 1897 |
| Home Town: | Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Allandale Public School |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Suicide (hanging), Barmera, South Australia, 20 July 1933, aged 36 years |
| Cemetery: |
AIF Cemetery, West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia Section: Light Oval ; Row: 9N; C/E/W: W; Site #: 12 |
| Memorials: | Coorabie and District WW1 Roll of Honor, South Australian Education Department Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 13 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3011, Mount Gambier, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3011, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Bakara embarkation_ship_number: A41 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Nov 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3011, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Bakara, Adelaide | |
| 5 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sapper, 3011, 2nd Signal Squadron |
Spr Clarence John Winterfield
From How We Served
3011 Sapper Clarence John Winterfield of Allandale East via Mount Gambia, South Australia had been employed as a school teacher when he enlisted for War Service on the 23rd of May 1916.
Allocated to reinforcements for the 9th Light Horse Regiment 1st AIF, Clarence embarked for Egypt and further training on the 4th of November and was taken on strength with the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment on the 14th of December.
Having completed his course of instruction at Zeitoun and then to the Signals Training Depot at Alexandria where he qualified as a signaller. Clarence was sent to join the 4th Signal Squadron on the 10th of May 1917. Clarence, now a member of the Desert Mounted Corps would serve throughout the Middle East campaign against the Turkish forces which would see his Unit being engaged continuously as they served in the Holy Lands.
Clarence would incur hospitalisation for illness and injury during December 1917 and then again during April 1918, after which he was detached to the Base Signals Depot. On the 28th of June 1918 Clarence was transferred to the 2nd Signals Squadron and would remain on duty until he was embarked for repatriation to Australia, departing Egypt on the 26th of July 1919. Following his return to Adelaide Clarence received his formal discharge from the 1st AIF on the 5th of October 1919 and re-entered civilian life.
Clarence’s untimely death was due to suicide caused by hanging on the 20th of July 1933 at the age of 36. Following his death Clarence was formally laid to rest within West Terrace Cemetery, South Australia.
Submitted 22 October 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"BARMERA SETTLER'S TRAGIC END
Barmera was shocked this (Thursday) morning to learn of the tragic end of one of the district's most respected residents — Clarence John Winterfield — whose body was found hanging from a beam in an old house on his fruit property near Barmera. The gruesome discovery was made by Joseph Coombs, an 18 year-old lad, between 8 and 9 o'clock on Thursday morning. In the absence of Sergeant Gumley the Berri police investigated. Deceased served with the Light Horse in the war and has been at Barmera since the opening of the settlement. He was 36 years of age and married. The tragedy occasions widespread grief throughout the settlement where the deceased was held in the highest esteem." - from the Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record 20 Jul 1933 (nla.gov.au)
"OBITUARY. CLARENCE JOHN WINTERFIELD.
Mr. and Mrs. James Winterfield, of Moorak, received a severe shock on Thursday last when a telephone message informed them that their eldest son, Clarence John, had passed away at Barmera that day. The late Mr. Winterfield was born at Allandale 36 years ago. He received his primary education at the Allandale school, after which he went to the Observation College for Teachers. After completing his course there he was appointed teacher at Coorabil, near Fowlers Bay. From there he was transferred to Beetaloo Valley school. While teaching there in 1915 he enlisted in the 9th Light Horse and sailed for Egypt. He served in the Jordan Valley until 1919, when he returned to Australia. On his return he was appointed to the Gawler school, but after being there for a short time he resigned to go fruit growing at Barmera. Five years ago he married Sister Cameron Evans, who at one time was the district trained nurse in Mount Gambier, and afterwards matron of the Barmera Hospital. She held that position when she was married. They had no family. The funeral took place on Saturday morning his remains being interred in the A.I.F. portion of the West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide. His mother and father and other members of his family left on Thursday for Adelaide, and returned home early on Sunday morning." - from the Mount Gambier Border Watch 25 Jul 1933 (nla.gov.au)
Biography
Rootsweb ID: I398008 Birth Record: 12 Feb 1897 in Allandale East, South Australia
Father, James Winterfield, Allandale East, via Mount Gambier, South Australia
Described on enlisting as 19yrs 4mths old; single; 5' 8" tall; 138 lbs;
medium complexion; dark grey eyes; brown hair; Roman Catholic
13/5/1916 enlisted at Mount Gambier, SA
16/5/1916 appointed to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion, Adelaide, SA
24/5/1916 Signal School, Mitcham Camp
1/8/1916 22/9th Light Horse Regiment
4/11/1916 embarked from Outer Harbour, Port Adelaide, SA, onboard HMAT A41 Bakara
as a Private in 9th Light Horse Regiment, 22nd Reinforcement
4/12/1916 disembarked into Suez, Egypt
14/12/1916 taken on strength 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment, Moascar
31/12/1916 detached to Imperial School of Instructors, Zeitoun
7/4/1917 detached to RE Signal Base Depot, Alexandria
1/5/1917 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment
2/5/1917 4th Light Horse Troop
9/5/1917 Signal Details
10/5/1917 taken on strength of 4th Signal Troop
6/9/1917 proceeded to rest camp, Port Said
16/9/1917 rejoined 4th Signal Troop, in the field
12/12/1917 sick to hospital - septic sore on heel
admitted to 45th Stationary Hospital, Kantara
22/12/1917 admitted to No.14 Australian General Hospital
15/1/1918 transferred to Convalescent Depot, Moascar
29/1/1918 rejoined 4th Siganl Troop in the field, Moascar
7/6/1918 Sapper in Signal Training Unit
8/6/1918 Sapper with Aust & NZ TC & D Camps Headquarters (4th Signal Troop)
18/5/1919 Sapper with 4th Signal Troops engineers
19/5/1919 promoted to ER / Corporal
28/6/1919 taken on strength ER / Corporal in 2nd Signal Squadron
26/7/1919 Temporary Corporal in 2nd Signal Squadron
26/7/1919 embarked onboard HT Burma at Kantara, Egypt for return to Australia
27/8/1919 disembarked into Australia
5/10/1919 discharged from service
Medals: British War medal (18000) and Victory medal (17802)
Married: May C Winterfield
20/7/1973 passed away - 36yrs of age
buried in: West Terrace Cemetery - AIF Cemetery
Section: Light Oval ; Row: 9N; C/E/W: W; Site #: 12
Grant Expires: 22/07/2032
Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 27/5/2016. Lest we forget.
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