Military History

Embarked Fremantle per RMS ‘Ormonde’ for Egypt 13.3.1918.
Roll Rank Voyage Only Corporal.
Roll Unit 22nd Reinforcement 28th Battalion.
Clarkson disembarked at Suez 4.4.1918 and was taken on strength with his Battalion at the Suez Australian Camp 4.4.1918. He reverted to Lance Corporal. Soon after arrival he was diagnosed with influenza and evacuated to the General Hospital 12.4.1918. Clarkson was appointed Corporal 16.4.1918 and discharged to duty 21.4.1918. Clarkson reverted to Lance Corporal 25.4.1918. He was appointed Voyage Only Corporal with his Battalion when they joined the British Expeditionary Force and embarked per the ‘Ormond’ at Suez for England 27.4.1918. He disembarked at Southampton 15.5.1918 and with his Battalion, marched in to 5th Training Battalion at Fovant 15.5.1918. He reported sick and was admitted to the Group Hospital at Hurdcott 23.5.1918. On discharge from Hospital he was deemed fit for service and proceeded overseas to France 19.8.1918. Clarkson marched in to Australian Infantry Brigade Depot at Havre 31.8.1918. He was taken on strength in the field with his Battalion 6.9.1918. The 28th Battalion at this time was fighting at Flers and other arenas, to turn back the German Spring Offensive. By October, the 28th Battalion was fighting an allied offensive on the Somme at St. Quentin. Clarkson was KIA 3.10.1918. He was buried at Mt. St. Martin British Cemetery, Gouy Estrees Rd, (9 miles North of St. Quentin). His remains were exhumed and reinterred in 1920 in the presence of a Chaplain, at Bellicourt British Cemetery, Bellicourt, Aisne, France, Plot 4, Row L, Grave 6, located 7 ½ miles NNW of St. Quentin.
Final Rank Prov. Corporal 28th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Wife Helen nee Price experienced much tragedy whilst in Toodyay. The family lost much property and fencing in severe fires (Western Mail 20.12.1912 p47), their infant son died in 1915 (The Truth 17.4.1915 p5) and her husband was KIA 1918. Helen moved to Mary Street, Como.
Photos D.D. Clarkson.  Sourced from and reproduced with permission of the Clarkson Trustees
             HMAT 'Ormonde'. Photograph source sharpesonline.com
             Flers battlefield showing old trenches. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM  E00519
             28th Battalion resting prior to attack at St. Quentin 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E03148 

Information Source
AWM E00519. Flers battlefield showing old trenches. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced  from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E03148. 28th Battalion resting prior to attack at St. Quentin 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Donald Drummond Clarkson
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour- Donald Drummond Clarkson
Clarkson, G.D., A Very Man: Donald Drummond Clarkson (1880-1918) - His last journey. 2nd Ed. Pub: The Clarkson Trust, 2008
Clarkson, Donald Drummond. Photographic image sourced from and reproduced with permission of the Clarkson Trustees. Permission required for further image reproduction.
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Guildford Grammar School War Memorial
HMAT 'Ormonde'. Photograph source sharpesonline.com  
NAA: B2455, Clarke D D
The Truth (WA)
Western Mail

Toodyay, WA. (Wife)
Anstey Rd., West Guildford, WA. (Mother)

 

 

Associated Images