My Dad's Pages Page 5


Monday, 26 January 2009 11:33:05 AM

                           1st ARMOURED REGIMENT – Matilda Tanks  - LEO CLIVE CLARKE NX 114564 My Dad

 

 My Dad joined the Militia when he was 17 years old in the Bondi area. It was in this group, that he made many life-long friends.   He really wanted to join the A.I.F. with them but had a hard job to convince his mother to sign the necessary papers.  In those days the slouch hat that was worn had feathers on the left hand side, as had the original Australian Light Horse Regiments in W.W.1  He did his training in the Greta/ Singleton area N.S.W.  After his discharge, he went back to work at The Market Printery and finished his apprenticeship.  

 Mobilization Attestation Form A.A. Form Mob 1

He enlisted at Carrington road, Randwick on 1.8.40 and gave his date of birth as 25.8.22 instead of 13.5.23.  Place of Residence 12 Council Street. Bondi Junction.  (He was living with his Uncle and Aunt. Ed.)  His mother (next of kin was living at Foxlow Street, Captain’s Flat NSW.  He was shown as a Printer’s Apprentice, 

Form B Medical Examination.  He had a Medical at Dungog on 1 April 1942 and Oath of Enlistment sworn on 10th April 1942 (also at Dungog). 

  

 

Attestation Form

This was written at Greta on 10.7.42.  His No. 7003 and Unit 1st A.A.T. Batt.  His mother’s address was Foxlow Street, Captains Flat, NSW.  The date he finished  his Secondary School was shown as December, 1935.  The Oath was taken o n 19.7.1942.  

Application to Enlist for Service in Australia and Abroad

On this form dated 17.7.42 at Dungog his birth was shown correctly and this was the form that he had to use all his persuasive powers to get his mother to sign.  His home address was 12 Council Street, Bondi Junction and his Employer was Mr. A. Harper, The Market Printery), 372a Pitt Street, Sydney.   

Movements etc. from Army Records.  Form A.F. B103  (Note: These entries were not necessarily in date order) 

Date of Enlistment 17.10.1940 at Randwick.  No. N7003  His birth the was shown as 25.8.22 (not correct – and this was probably because he was not old enough to join up. (Ed.) 

EDITED DETAILS TAKEN FROM SERVICE & CASUALTY FORM A.F. B103
These are not necessarily in consecutive order but as listed in records.
17.12 41  M/I for continuous Tng to 1 MG Reg - Rutherford
19.07.42  T/fd to A.I.F. & allotted Army No NX 114564 - 2 MD
16.06.43  DES, OF UNIT. 1 army TK. Bn.at NSW -  L of C Area
05.04.43  Adm. Hosp. Frac Lower 1/3 Rt. Fibula? Tibea NSW - L of C Area
05.04.43  Adm. Hosp.  Tfd to 7 Aust C.C.S. NSW L of C Area
06.04.43  To 197 Aust. C.C.S. (INJURED DURING TNG.) NSW - L of C Area
05.04.43  Repot of an injury. Description simple fracture of lower 1/3 of fibula
Will not impair efficiency not cause permanent ill effects.  Probable
Period incapacitated 3 months
25.01.43  Apptd Spec Grp 111 (Dvr Mech) - NSW L of C Area
20.05.43  Tfd to X List (not M/O to Q Lof C Area) - NSW L of C Area
13.04.43  Disch 107 CCS (Frac. Tibia & Fibula to 102 AGH - NSW L of C Area
27.06.43  Adm 112 Con Depot Fract. Dislocation Rt. ankle joint 1st Degree  from 102 AGH
- NSW L of C Area
13.4.43    Adm 102 AGH (Fract Rt Ankle Joint) Ex 107 CCS - NSW L O C Area
27.06.43  Disch 102 AGH (Fract Rt Ankle Joint) to 112 Con Depot
Signed ..............Lieut. NSW. L of C Area Records Office.  
29.07.43  Taken on Strength from 112 Aust Con Depot - Qld
21.07.43  Disch112 Con Depot to NSW L of C Area GDD - Qld
21.07.43  M/In to NSW GDD from 112 Con Depot - Qld
07.08.43 Embarked Townsville per Westralia Permanent in Ships Hosp returning to Mainland
18.08.43  Evac to 115 AGH (Post Basal Pneumonia) & tfd to X List - Vic
24.08.43  Evac 115 AGH to Stonnington Con Depot - Vic
07.09.43  Evac Stonnington Con Depot to 115 AGH - Vic
09.09.43  Disch 115 AGH to Vic L of C Area Gen Details Depot - Vic
09.09.43  M/In from 115 AGH to Vic L of C Area GDD - Vic
10.09.43  M/out to 1 Aust Pers Stg Camp from Vic GDD - Vic
16.09.43  M/In from 1 Aust Pers Stg Camp to 5 Aust Adv Reinfs Depot - Qld
04.11.43  M/out to 13 Aust Pers Stsg Camp from 5 Aust Reinfs Depot - Qld
04.11.43  M/in from 5 Aust. Adv Reinfs Depot to 13 Aust Pers Stg Camp - Qld
22.11.43  Embarked Townsville per Katoomba - Qld
26.11.43  Disembarked Pt Moresby - NG
18.12.43  Taken on Strength from 13 Aust Pers Stg. Camp - NG
31.12.43  Evac to 2/2 Aust CCS (P.V.O) & trans to X List - NG  
02.01.44  Evac 2/2 Aust CCS to 2/1 AGH - NG
19.01.44  Disch 2/1/ AGH ( Malaria BT) to NG Details Depot - NG
22.01.44  Rej Unit form NG Details Depot  - NG      
27.05.44  Embarked at Finschhafen New Guinesa per "Sea Snipe" - NG
04.06.44  Disembarked at Brisbane - Qld
01.06.44  DESIGNATION NOW 1 AUST ARMD. REF. AIF
23.11.44  M/o to LHQ, AFV School Dvr, Mechs Course 19 from 28.11.44 to
30.12.44 & tfd to X List.- Qld
02.01.45  Rej Unit from LHQ AFV Sch Dvr Mech Course 19 - Qld
22.01.45  Qualified LHQ AFV Sch Dvr Mech Wing Course 19 from 23.11.44 to
30.12.44 - Qld
27.04.45  Relinquished Grp 3 Dvr Mech Course Graded Group 2 Dvr Mech AFV - Qld
31.05.45  Embarked Brisbane per Frank A Munsey - Qld
12.06.45  Disembarked Morotai - NEI
27.06.45  Embarked Morotai per LST 714 for service British Nth Borneo - Balikpapan
21.04.45  Marital condition Ref now Wife Cpl Margaret MacIntosh Clarke 105705 Group 985
Townsville - Balikpapan
21.04.45  Next of Kin Change of as above - Balikpapan
29.10.45  Evac to 2/2 CCS and tfd to X List - Balikpapan
29.10.45  Evac 2/2 CCS to 2/12  Gen Hosp -Balikpapan
07.11.45  Evac 2/12 Gen Hosp to 2/2 CCS - Balikpapan
17.11.45  Disch 2/2 CCs to 7 Div Rec Camp - Balikpapan
22.11.45  Tfd to 2/9 Inf Bn - Balikpapan
22.11.45  Tfd in from 1 Armd Reg - Balikpapan
29.12.45  Transferred to Holding Strength LTD  NSW - NEI
L of C Area (Demob)
18.01.46  DISCHARGED AMR & O 253 (a) (1) (N)........ - NSW             
ON ACCOUNT OF DEMOBILIZATION
PROCEEDING FOR DISCHARGE FORM AAF. A.102
 
I have only keyed in information that is relevant to my research. Ed.
On this form his birth was shown as 13.5.22 instead of 1923.
Full time Duty Commenced 17.12.41.  
 
Operational Services.
Embarkation for overseas – New Guinea 7.8.43 –Disembarked 28.8.43
       - Borneo 31.5.45 – 8.1.46 - Embarked 22.11.43 – Disembarked 4.6.44
                                          
Discharge Certificate No 401856
 
Served Full time War Service CMF 17.12.41 to 18.7.42 AIF  19.7.42   to 18.1.46
                                                
Total Effective Period  1,494 days which included Active Service in Australia 935 days
 Active Service O/S Australia 441 Days.
A copy of Background Report on “The Royal NSW Lancers in New Guinea” by Major Norman Best  was sent to me by a member of the Regiment and this showed ‘A’ Squadron had arrived in New Guinea and moved to Pola Plantation near Finschhafen on 7 December 1943 and relieved C Squadron on 11 December.  Also given, were details of the difficulties of using the tanks in the jungle but they were able to provide great support to the ground troops.  Many places are mentioned but I have no way of knowing at this stage exactly where Leo’s group were active.   These are Lakona, Masagweng River, Fortification Hill, Hubika, Wandoki, Buna, Nuzen, Kwamkwam, Kelanoa, Buri River near Scharnhorst Point, Gneisenau Point, 10-11 January, (an insurmountable tank obstacle) and movement of A Squadron back to Gusika 7 February.  This ended the Lancers’ New Guinea Campaign and the first of the Battalion  left New Guinea on 4 May 1944.  From Leo’s own records, it seems that he was ill for periods whilst in New Guinea and I believe he had Malaria.   He certainly had some attacks after his discharge from the Army.