31386
CLARK, Roy
| Service Number: | 4770 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 10 April 1917 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gawler, South Australia, 12 December 1898 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Balaklava Public School, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Electrician |
| Died: | 20 December 1973, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Balaklava Public Cemetery, S.A. Plot 1039N |
| Memorials: | Balaklava District WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 10 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 4770, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 4770, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 4770, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 4770, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 4770, 50th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Roy was the son of David Charles CLARK & Emily WHITLOCK nee LAWLER and was born on the 12th of December 1898 in Gawler, SA.
His parents were married on the 7th of August 1897 in Gawler, SA.
His father was the son of John Rowlins CLARK & Phoebe Jackson SATCHELL and was born on the 22nd of October 1864 in Williamstown, SA.
His mother was the daughter of Robert LAWLER & Selina CORK and was born in 1869 in Angaston, SA.
Roy was the eldest child born into the family of 6 children.
His father was a labourer and they lived at Whitwarta, near Balaklava, SA.
His mother was previously married to Sydney Herbert WHITLOCK on the 17th of February 1892 in St David’s Church, Burnside, SA.
They had 3 children before Sydney drowned on the 23rd of March 1896 at Largs Bay and then his mother gave birth to their last child.
Roy and his siblings attended the Balaklava School and on completing his schooling he gained employment as an electrical apprentice with the Balaklava Electric Lighting Scheme.
At the age of 19, Roy enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 10th of April 1917 in Balaklava, SA and was allotted the service number 4770 and posted to B Company in Mitcham Camp. He was then transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 13th Reinforcements on the 1st of May.
On Monday evening, the 21st of May, a farewell was held for Roy in the Balaklava Institute Hall.
Roy embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 23rd of June 1917, disembarking in Plymouth on the 25th of August and marched into the 15th Training Battalion in Codford.
Roy served in France until he was wounded and then embarked on the 22nd of January 1919 on board HT Demosthenes, disembarking in Adelaide on the 28th of February.
Roy was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 24th of March 1919.
In May 1919 Roy wrote a letter to the Balaklava Lighting Committee asking to be re instated into the position he vacated when he enlisted, and so he was.
Roy married Myrtle Hannah MARRIOTT.
Myrtle was the daughter of Samuel James MARRIOTT & Mary Jane CURNOW and was born on the 26th of May 1897 in Williamstown, SA.
They later moved to 22 Percy Street, Semaphore and Roy gained employment as a crane driver.
Myrtle died on the 14th of January 1955 and Roy buried her on the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section Q, Drive D, Path 6, Plot 128N.
Roy then moved back to Balaklava and lived at 44 Railway Terrace, next to his brother Walter.
Roy died on the 20th of December 1973 and was buried 2 days later in the Balaklava Cemetery; Plot 1039N.
Military
At the age of 19, Roy enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 10th of April 1917 in Balaklava, SA and was allotted the service number 4770 and posted to B Company in Mitcham Camp.
He listed his father, of Balaklava, SA, as his next of kin and his parents consented to his enlistment.
Roy was only 5 feet tall.
He was then transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 13th Reinforcements on the 1st of May.
Roy embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A30 Borda on the 23rd of June 1917, disembarking in Plymouth on the 25th of August and marched into the 15th Training Battalion in Codford.
Roy continued his training here and spent his first Christmas away from his family.
On the 17th of January 1918 Roy was admitted into Sutton Veny Military Hospital suffering from a fractured right Clavicle.
After 3 weeks recovering he was discharged back to the 15th Training Battalion on the 6th of February and then on the 11th of April he was transferred to the 14th Training Battalion.
Roy proceeded to France 4 days later and marched into the Australian Infantry Base Depot (AIBD) in Etaples.
He was taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion on the 10th of May, who were in reserve to the 29th Battalion, west of Vaux-sur-Somme.
Six days later Roy was in the front line and then on the 22nd of May he was transferred to the 50th Battalion who were in camp at Querrieu.
They remained here in training until they moved to the front line on the 1st of June for 16 days before being relieved by the 45th Battalion.
After 10 days rest they moved back into the front line near Aubigny, where they spent most of July.
By August they had moved into the support line at Gentelles Wood before moving into the front line, south of Villers-Bretonneaux on the 5th.
They then moved into reserve at Cerisy and then into the front line at Bray.
By the 1st of September they were in training at Rivery and 5 days later they were embussed to Bianches before moving to Cartigny and then onto Beaumetz into the front line.
Roy suffered a severe Gun Shot Wound to his left calf on the 11th of September here and was evacuated to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance and then onto the 41st Casualty Clearing Station at Proyart.
Six days later he was transferred to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen and then invalided to England the following day and admitted into the Ford Military Hospital in Devonport.
Roy spent 6 weeks here recovering before being transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 31st of October.
He was then discharged to furlo on the 4th of November and whilst on furlo the Armistice was signed.
On the 18th of November Roy report to No.4 Command Depot in Hurdcott, awaiting his embarkation orders.
Roy spent Christmas 1918 in England before embarking on the 22nd of January 1919 on board HT Demosthenes, disembarking in Adelaide on the 28th of February.
Roy was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 24th of March 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.