Africa Star: Sergeant Francis George Clark, 2/17th Battalion

Africa Star. Impressed reverse with recipient's details.

Francis George Clark was born in July 1892 in Goulburn, New South Wales. He was employed as a plumber in Harden near his home in Murrumburrah prior to enlisting in the AIF on 20 February 1916. He was posted as a private, service number 5316, to the 20th Battalion, and left Sydney for overseas service aboard the troopship Wiltshire in August 1916.

In May 1917, Clark was wounded during the battle of Bullecourt, suffering a gunshot wound to the buttock and groin. He spent the following months recovering in England, re-joining his battalion in France in September, and then serving in Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres at Menin Road and Poelcapelle. In April 1918, he was again wounded in battle, suffering a gunshot wound to the ear during the fighting at Hangard Wood near Villers-Bretonneux. He did not re-join his battalion until August, by which time he had been promoted to corporal.

On 31 August, Clark was involved in action at Mont Saint-Quentin for which he was later awarded the Military Medal. Not long afterwards, on 3 October, near Beaurevoir, Clark was involved in action for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Surviving the First World War, Clark returned home. In 1922 he married Genevieve Mary Rolfe, and the couple had a daughter, Janiceand a son, Russell. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Clark again volunteered. However, being over the age limit for joining the Second AIF (he was 47 years old at the time the war began) he lied about his age, claiming that he was 39 years old. Posted as a Bren gunner to 2/17th Battalion, of the 9th Division, NX17124 Corporal Clark embarked in Sydney for overseas service in February 1940. Rising to the rank of sergeant, he was known within his battalion as a soldier of great spirit, whose courage, daring, and aptitude in dealing with desperate situations inspired those around him. A story on him featured in a 1941 issue of Reveille magazine.

In March the 9th Division was brought to Libya to garrison the area east of Tobruk, and by April had become surrounded at Tobruk. Besieged, the Australians helped defend the Tobruk fortress for the next six months. During the long siege, on 7 June 1941, Francis Clark was killed in action. He was buried in the British and Commonwealth Cemetery in Tobruk.

Two of Clark's younger brothers served in the same battalion: NX60569 Private Walter Herbert Clark (b. 1902), and NX30305 Private Roy Alfred Clark (b. 1910). Both survived the war. His son, NX134120 Russell Bruce Clark also served during the Second World War, with the 2/5th Armoured Regiment Workshop, Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.