George Albert Ernest Clarke
Rank:
Private
Serial No:
Serial No. 5161
Regiment:
18th Battalion
Suburb:
Camden
George Albert Ernest Clarke - Information
George left for war service on the 5th of June 1916. He sailed from Sydney onboard the HMAT Kyarra as a Private with the 13th Reinforcements, 18th Battalion. He had enlisted in the AIF in Casula on the 3rd of February 1916, at 30 years of age. At the time, he was living in Camden and working as a farm labourer. He had come to the area from Victoria, where he was born in North Carlton.
George disembarked in England in early August and was marched out to the 5th Training Battalion. In October, he was shipped to the Western Front in France. He joined his unit in the lines the following month. However, George soon reported to hospital with laryngitis. By December, he was suffering with bronchitis. On the 4th of January, he was evacuated to England to the 1st Southern General Hospital, where he was also diagnosed with trench fever. He spent some time in convalescence; however, his health was still dwindling. Consequently, he was invalided back to Australia in early September 1917. He was then medically discharged for chronic bronchitis.