Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William (known as Willie) Thomas Clarke was the second son of George Ishmael William and Annie Elizabeth Eva (Betsy, née Walters) Clarke, of North Branch, Milton; his father being later of 42 Villa St., Masterton, Wairarapa, where he died in 1927. He was born on 16 January 1893 at Geraldine and received his early education at Scotsburn (Peel Forest) School. His father, George Ishmael William Clarke, arrived at Tautaku, South Otago, on 5 November 1901, bringing his mill from Peel Forest, South Canterbury. Because of his father's poor health, the family went into dairy farming at North Branch, Milton; the mill was operated by a relative and other managers until all the assets including the mill and timber rights were sold in 1913. Prior to enlistment William was a partner in the family firm of Messrs G. W. Clarke and Sons, dairy farmers, and was a farmer residing at home at North Branch, Milton in 1914.

W. T. Clarke, Infantry, of Milton, was part of the South Otago quota of the 20th Reinforcements –a number which exceeded the allotted quota - who departed from Milton by the 24 August 1916 morning express. On an evening before they were entertained at complimentary by St John’s Club and the Y.M.C.A. branch. They were heartily farewelled as they left. He wrote regularly to his younger brother Leslie James Clarke, with whom he had a close relationship, while training at Trentham and Featherston Camps - letters the family still hold and treasure (in 2025).

While in camp in September 1916, Private W. T. Clarke of J Company 20th Reinforcements, was temporarily appointed a lance-corporal. Embarking at Wellington on 2 January 1917 per the “Opawa” he was destined for London, England, from where he proceeded overseas on 28 May.

William is another serviceman who seems to have gone through his overseas war service relatively unscathed until the fatal blow at Passchendaele, just over four months later. He was killed in action on 4 October 1917, aged 23 years and 4 months, and was initially buried between Otto Farm and Tofel Passchendale Road (probably where he fell in the Field). Subsequently he was interred in the Poelcapelle British Cemetery at West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. His name appeared in the ‘Bruce Herald’ “Death Roll” of 25 October 1917.

In August 1917, the Milton Branch of the Y.M.C.A. had unveiled a roll of honour of the members of the association who had answered the Empire’s call and gone forth to assist in upholding her cause. The mayor who performed the official ceremony, took as the basis of his address the words of Solomon in the Biblical Book of Proverbs – “A good name is better than riches.” He went on to say that too much honour could not be given to those boys who left their homes to fight in this great and cruel war. They were proud of the boys of Milton and district who left for this purpose, and although their hearts were torn with the knowledge that some of them would never return, they were satisfied that under whatever circumstances they were placed they would nobly do their duty to God and man. Some of the 47 named on the paneled oak roll of honour had already lost their lives and before too long William Thomas Clarke was to join them.

William also took a keen interest in Presbyterian Church activities, and was a tenor horn player in the fourteenth Regimental Band (South Otago Regiment with which he was serving at the time of enlisting). A poignant phrase attached to his death notice in the ‘Otago Daily Times’ and ‘Otago Witness’ read “Asleep in Jesus.” While in camp William drew up a Will, appointing his father as executor and bequeathing all his real and personal estate, including life insurance policies to his father, and if his father should predecease him, to his mother. A certificate of death from the Registrar General was provided for probate to be granted.

His older brother George John Clarke enlisted but was not medically fit enough to serve overseas. And another brother, Donald Charles Clarke, was called up but did not enlist.

The British War Medal and Victory Medal awarded to William Thomas Clarke were sent to his father at Masterton in 1921, as were the plaque and scroll. His name is inscribed on the Timaru Memorial Wall, the Geraldine War Memorial and the Bruce Fallen Soldiers Memorial at Milton, Otago – Rfm. W. T. CLARKE Portraits are available in the Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database and Onward: Portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Volume 1

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [08 October 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0025641) [19 March 2014]; CWGC [09 October 2013]; Timaru Herald, 9 September 1896, 1 November 1917, Bruce Herald, 24 August 1916, 13 August 1917, 25 October 1917 [x 3], Otago Witness, 30 August 1916, 31 October 1917, 7 November 1917, Dominion, 14 September 1916, Otago Daily Times, 26 & 29 October 1917, 1 November 1917, 11 June 1927, Clutha Leader, 30 October 1917, Evening Star, 31 October 1917 (Papers Past) [13 November 2013; 25 July 2015; 01 & 02 March 2017]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [November 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [November 2013[; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [November 2013[; Photograph of George William Clarke's mill (www.nzmuseums.co.nz Owaka Museum; information from Donald Clarke [William's brother] 1896-1984 from family archives) [13 October 2013]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [27 October 2015]; Bruce Fallen Soldiers Memorial, Milton (New Zealand History) [02 March 2017]; Photo in Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 1 (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG); SCRoll web submission by N Cooze, 8 September 2025

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• Great War Stories - William Thomas Clarke - Timaru Herald 18 March 2017 (pdf, 128.5 KB updated 15-Sep-2017)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS