Enlisted AIF 5 June 1940, later joined 2/4th’s ‘C’ Company No. 12 Platoon.

Please read about the men of 12 Platoon.

Soldier’s possessions at time of his death were as follows; one whistle on a lanyard, one half rupee note and two ten cent notes.

Read about ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion

Above;  Sam Clarke’s body rests in the Commonwealth War Cemetery Thanbyuzyat, Myanmar.

Above:  Sam’s older brother Willam enlisted earlier than Sam, joining the 2/11th he was sent to ME where he died in the field (blown up by a bomb) Greece on 17 April 1941, aged 24 years.

Below:  William Clarke

William Clarke enlisted 7 Nov 1939 aged 23 years and 4 months.

Raised at Northam, Western Australia, on 13 October 1939, 2/11th Battalion formed part of the 6th Division of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, which was raised for service overseas at the start of the war.  The majority of its personnel were recruited from  Western Australia, and the battalion was the only infantry battalion of the 6th Division raised outside of New South Wales or Victoria.

They were firstly assigned 1st Jan 1941 to Greece.

‘In early April 1941 the 2/11th were deployed to assist in the defence of Greece. The Allied forces, however, were unable to hold back the attacking Germans. The 2/11th withdrew from its initial positions at Kalabaka and remained on the move until it occupied rearguard positions at Brallos Pass a week later. It fought and slowed the Germans there on 24 April and then continued its withdrawal to Megara, where it was evacuated by sea on the night of 25 April.

The battalion landed on Crete the next day. It was subsequently deployed with the 2/1st Battalion to defend Retimo airfield, which was held tenaciously for ten days following the landing of German paratroops on 20 May. German successes elsewhere on Crete, however, made surrender inevitable. Many 2/11th soldiers attempted to escape from Crete but only a relatively small number ultimately succeeded; most were taken prisoner.’

Please read further about Battle of Brallos Pass

William was buried near Bralos, Greece. After the end of the war William Clarke’s name was included at the :

ATHENS MEMORIAL

Face 12.

Greece

Sam is son of George Clarke who m. July 1918 at Tendring, Essex to Ada Elizabeth Mills.  They had nine children of whom Sam was the second born son.

Ada, aged 31 years with siX of her children she arrived from England at Fremantle on 8 Jan 1931 on ‘Largs Bay’. A further three children were born in WA.  We believe George Clarke sailed several years prior.

Their daughter Edna May Clarke died 4 Jul 1944, North Fremantle aged 24 years. She was buried at Karrakatta.

Sam’s father George Clarke died august 1952 aged 64 years.  The family had resided in North Fremantle when George died.  Sam’s mother Ada Elizabeth Clarke (nee Mills) died 1978. She remarried in 1955 to William Patrick Atkinson.

Unfortunately we have found only little information about Sam Clarke.  Should any family members read this – we would much appreciate you contacting us.