CLERK, Edward George
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Bundarra, New South Wales, Australia, 30 May 1874 |
| Home Town: | Longreach, Longreach, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Stockman, Bushman, Soldier Aviator, Miner |
| Died: | Randwick- Military Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, 9 October 1941, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Macquarie Park Cemetery & Crematorium, North Ryde, New South Wales |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Lieutenant, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lieutenant, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Edward George Clerk was born on 30 May 1874 at Clerkness, Bundarra, New South Wales, a son to Edward George Clerk and Emily Clerk. His father was a member of an old Scottish titled family, and after his birth his father relocated the family to Queensland pursuing grazing activities in the Longreach area. At the time of his enlistment in the Boer War in 1901 he noted his father as N.O.K. living at Cleeve, Longreach.
He served in the South African (Boer) War 1901-1902, the Zulu Campaign 1906; and WW1. His first service was as a Lieutenant in the 5th Queensland Imerial Bushmen, Boer War. Second service was as a Captain in Royston's Horse, Natal Rebellion (Zulu) 1906. Third service is assumed to be in the British Army as a Major, WW1, for which he recieved a D.S.O.
A newspaper report at the end of his Boer War service noted he remained in South Africa in hospital when the remainder of the 5th QIB returned to Australia. It appears he remained in South Africa after recieving his discharge and later in 1906 enlisted to serve in the Natal Rebellion. Newspaper reports indicate that at outbreak of WW1 he again enlisted, its assumed with the British Army, during which he was wounded and was awarded a D.S.O.
Following WW1 he remained in England taking charge of the Lancashire School of Aviation at Blackpool, England. He was badly injured in a motor vehicle accident while in England, left 'crippled', eventually making his way back to Brisbane where he established an aviation school. He also became interested in mining, and on hearing of gold discovery at Tennant Creek movied there pioneering the opening of the goldfields.
(sources- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll; Murray p. 492; Anglo Boer War Research, Royston's Horse 1906 Natal Rebellion; various newspaper articles in links on this profile).
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