Profile

CLARKE, Edward
(Service number 40706)

Edward Clarke, circa 1917 — (Courtesy of A Kirk )

Aliases
First Rank	Rifleman	Last Rank	Rifleman

Birth

Date	15/08/1895	Place of Birth	Fairlie

Enlistment Information

Date	15 November 1916	Age	21 yrs 2 mths
Address at Enlistment	Fairlie, Canterbury
Occupation	Baker
Previous Military Experience	2nd S.C. Rgt.
Marital Status	Single
Next of Kin	Mrs Thomas CLARKE (mother), Box 91, Fairlie, South Canterbury
Religion	Presbyterian
Medical Information	Height 5 feet 10 inches. Weight 140 lbs. Chest 33-37 inches. Complexion fresh. Eyes blue. Hair brown. Both eyes 6/6, Hearing and colour vision good. Limbs and chest well formed. Full movement of joints. Heart and lungs normal. Had appendix removed (15 mnths ago). Free from hernia, varicocele, haemorrhoids, inveterate or contagious skin disease. Vaccination mark. Good bodily and mental health. No slight defects. No fits. Slight varicose veins in left leg.

Military Service

Served with	NZ Armed Forces	Served in	Army
Military District

Embarkation Information

Body on Embarkation	New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Unit, Squadron, or Ship	Reinforcements G Company
Date	14 March 1917
Transport	Ruapehu
Embarked From	Wellington	Destination	Devonport, England

Other Units Served With
Last Unit Served With

Military Awards

Campaigns
Service Medals	British War Medal; Victory Medal
Military Awards

Award Circumstances and Date

No information

Prisoner of War Information

Date of Capture
Where Captured and by Whom
Actions Prior to Capture
PoW Serial Number
PoW Camps
Days Interned
Liberation Date

Discharge

Date	2 October 1918	Reason	No longer physically fit for War Service

Hospitals, Wounds, Diseases and Illnesses

October 1917 wounded in left arm. November 1917 admitted to hospital with slight wound to left arm and severe wound to right leg. Later in November and in December improving. 15 December 1917 transferred to Convalescence Depot at Hornchurch. 23 February 1918 to Codford with sore throat and on 9 March 1918 to Brocton Camp, sick. Medical Board report - 12 October 1917 at Passchendaele wounded left arm and right leg; treatment abroad at Brockenhurst and Codford; 20 June 1918 under treatment at King George V Hospital; condition as at October 1918 - scar inner side right leg junction upper and middle third, puncture scar posterior aspect junction upper and middle third, another anterior aspect junction middle and lower third; wounds do not trouble him; contracted influenza; no(?) breathless[ness] especially at night and after exertion; apex beat differs with pulsation ...; epigastric region area of cardiac dullness(?) enlarged. Medical Board report of 15 March 1918 at Brocton Camp - had been refused enlistment on 2 occasions in N.Z. because of heart; got short of breath and giddy, palpitation; cause of disability - thyroid enlargement; present condition - heart not enlarged, pulse 120 increaing to 180 slow return, aortic first sound impure, per cent different last heaving in pulse; man looks ill, anaemic, tremor marked, weak and giddy after exercising, reflexes normal; disability aggravated by military service, disability permanent; 50 per cent disablement; recommended P. U. for War Service and return to N.Z. Further Medica Board proceeding on 11 September 1918 at Rotorua.

Post-war Occupations

Baker; sheepfarmer; clerk

Death

Date	15 March 1960	Age	64 yrs
Place of Death	Timaru, of Fairlie
Cause	Due to service with the Forces
Notices	Timaru Herald, 16 March 1960
Memorial or Cemetery	Fairlie Cemetery
Memorial Reference	Block P9, Plot 31
New Zealand Memorials

Biographical Notes

Edward was the son of Thomas and Mrs Ellen (COOPER-KIDD) CLARKE of Fairlie. Married to Jessie Isobel LISHMAN in 1933. Followeed his father into the baking occupation. Edward returned to NZ in 1918 by "Ulimaroa", embarking 1 May 1918 at Liverpool, and after serving for a total of 1 year and 322 days. Along with Bandsman McKellar, Edward was welcomed home at a social in Fairlie in June 1918; the supper was the gift of his parents, Mr and Mrs T. Clarke, as it was on many other occasions. He was twice wounded in the same battle, the second time while waiting to be evacuated; he was reported to have made a good recovery. Edward was 'Medically Boarded' on 11 September 1918 at Rotorua and issued with certain documents - Proceedings of Medical Board, Medical File (his own), War Pensiosn Form, Privilege-leave Certificate, Notice of Discharge Certificate, Three-weeks Rail-ticket 2nd class, 3 pounds (sterling), as well as a Boat warrant and a Meal ticket. On 1 April 1960 the War Pensions Board decided that his death was due to his service with the Forces. His next-of-kin at death was his widow Mrs Jessie I. Clarke living in Fairlie. Edward was also survived by a daughter and a son. Fairlie RSA members were in attendance at his funeral. His medals were issued after his discharge.

Sources

Cenotaph Database [23 October 2013]; NZ Defence Force Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0025460) [30 March 2014; Mackenzie District Council Burial Records (Fairlie Cemetery) [2014]; Timaru Herald, 24 January 1917, 3 November 1917, 29 June 1918 (Papers Past) [09 April 2014]; Timaru Herald, 16 & 17 March 1960 (Timaru District Library) [11 April 2014]

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