Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clarence Hage was born at Kapunda on 30 March 1922 and resided at Greenock South Australia with his parents and two siblings Edwin and Rita. He attended the Greenock Primary School where he completed his schooling. As times were tough for families Clarence was offered a job by Mr Oscar Seppelt of B Seppelts and Sons Winery at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa Valley, where he was employed to feed the birds that were on display. After the first week he was summoned to the office of the owner and after assuming he was in some sort of trouble he was offered a job working in the main office. One of the conditions was that he would attend the School of Mines at Kapunda to commence studies in office and business administration. Upon accepting this position he was enrolled in the night school classes and commenced his studies by riding his bicyle to Kapunda to attend his classes.

At age 20 he decided to enlist in the Australian Army to the consternation of his mother who at that time had an invalid husband and did not want him to enlist. He however enlisted on 21st April 1942 at Nuriootpa. After passing his medical with some conditions he was accepted into the military where after his initial training he was attached to the 6 Movement Control Unit operating out of Keswick in Adelaide SA. As he was employed in a clerical capacity in his employment, he was assigned a role as a Rail and Dock Checker.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal 19/10/1944 and Corporal on 22/1/46, He was discharged on 11/11/1946 to return to civilian life and resume his employment at B Seppelt and Sons at Seppeltsfield South Australia.