Studio portrait of Lieutenant Clarence Roy Thorsen MM, 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery (LTMB) ...

Studio portrait of Lieutenant Clarence Roy Thorsen MM, 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery (LTMB) from Kadina, South Australia. A 19 year old miner prior to enlisting on 17 June 1915, he embarked for overseas as a Drummer with service number 425, with B Company. 32nd Battalion from Adelaide, South Australia aboard HMAT Geelong (A2) on 18 November 1915. After arriving in Egypt, he proceeded to France in June 1916 and shortly after arriving there, he transferred to the 8th LTMB. Following his promotion to Corporal on 9 January 1917 and to Sergeant on 15 February, he was wounded in action on 3 May and spent two months undergoing medical treatment and recuperation before rejoining his unit. During operations at Polygon Wood, east of Ypres, Belgium on 26/30 September 1917, he “rendered most valuable service in establishing forward dumps for Stokes Shells under heavy enemy fire.” He maintained the supply of ammunition for the guns, often under heavy enemy barrages. For his bravery, he was later awarded the Military Medal (MM). On 5 October 1917, he was selected to attend No 5 Officer Cadet Battalion in Cambridge, UK and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on 2 February 1918. After later being promoted to Lieutenant on 18 August 1918, he arrived back in Australia on 18 June 1919.