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George William Clarke - Information

George was born in Burragorang near Picton in 1880. He later resided at 26 Crystal St in Petersham and worked as a labourer. Shortly after the recruitment booths were opened, George eagerly signed up on the 25th of August 1914 in Randwick. He was subsequently posted to the 2nd Battalion as a Private. He was then sent overseas, embarking Sydney on the 18th of October 1914 on the HMAT Suffolk.

George and all the eager recruits soon found themselves in Egypt. After further training, they started out for the Dardanelles in early April 1915. The 2nd Battalion went ashore at Gallipoli during the initial landing waves on the 25th of April. Unable to break out from the beach, the men began digging trenches along the ridges, valleys and plateaus. Heavy fighting followed and on the 30th, George was wounded, caught in a bomb blast, which injured his foot. He was subsequently evacuated to Alexandria in Egypt to a General Hospital. He was back to duty in early May at Mustapha Base, however, a month later, he was admitted to the 17th General Hospital with pyrexia. The infection grew worse, developing into enteritis. He was released from hospital in late August, joining the Transport Section at Maadi as a Driver.

In March 1916, George was taken to France, where he continued to transport men and material. From the 26th of May until 9th of June 1917, he was granted leave in the UK. In May 1918, after enduring another winter in the frontlines, George reported sick to Rouen with trench fever. On the 13th, he was evacuated to England. He was still recovering when the war ended in November. Throughout 1919, he remained on transport duties until he returned to Australia on the 23rd of October.