The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX17124) Sergeant Francis George Clark, 2/17th Battalion, 2nd AIF, Second World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Richard Cruise, the story for this day was on (NX17124) Sergeant Francis George Clark, 2/17th Battalion, 2nd AIF, Second World War.

NX17124 Sergeant Francis George Clark, 2/17th Battalion, 2nd AIF
KIA 7 June 1941
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 7 February 2017

Today we pay tribute to Sergeant Francis George Clark.

Francis Clark was born on 31 July 1892 in Goulburn, New South Wales, to George and Jane Clark. He worked as a plumber in Harden near his home in Murrumburrah before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 20 February 1916. He was posted 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 serving in Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres at Menin Road and Poelcappelle.

In April of the following year Clark was again wounded in battle, suffering a gunshot wound to the ear during the fighting at Hangard Wood near Villers-Bretonneux. While recovering, he contracted influenza, and did not re-join his battalion in France 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. His citation noted his “great daring in bombing and sniping … protecting the extreme flank which was in the air. Several time the enemy attempted to bomb along the trench, but through Corporal Clark’s prompt action they were repulsed by his personal efforts on each occasion.”

On 3 October Clark was involved in action for which he would be decorated with the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The citation for this action read:

During the attack on the Beaurevoir System, near the village of Beaurevoir, north of St Quentin, Corporal Clark located a machine gun post on the left flank, which was causing many casualties. With great dash single-handed he rushed the post, killed two of the crew and took ten prisoners in face of heavy machine gun fire. Later he bombed a machine gun post … Throughout the attack his promptitude and gallantry in dealing with such obstacles saved the Battalion from numerous casualties. After his platoon officer and platoon sergeant had become casualties he took charge and handled his men with boldness and initiative.

Clark returned home safely and in 1922 he married Genevieve Mary Rolfe, and the couple had seven children: Donald, Mervyn, Bruce, Elizabeth, Beryl, Marguerita, and Janice.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Clark again volunteered. However, being over the age limit at 47 years old, he lied about his age, claiming that he was 39 – just below the cut-off age. He was posted to the 2/17th Battalion of the 9th Division, and embarked for overseas service in February 1940.

Rising to the rank of sergeant, Clark 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. Such was his character, that some of his comrades wrote poems about “Clarkie”. A story on him even 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. The Australians helped defend the besieged Tobruk fortress for the next six months, during which, on 7 June 1941, Francis Clark was killed in action. He was buried in the British and Commonwealth Cemetery in Tobruk, aged 49.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my left, among some 40,000 Australians who died while serving in the Second World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Francis George Clark, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Dr Lachlan Grant
Historian, Military History Section