Clark, Francis George (Sergeant, b.? - d.1941)

Places
Accession Number PR04589
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: 1 cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type Letter, Papers, Postcard, Poem
Maker Clark, Bruce
Various
Watson, Bertram Hugh
Place made Australia
Date made 1940-c1946
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required.
Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX17124 Sergeant Francis George ‘Frank’ Clark, 2/17 Australian Infantry Battalion, Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia and the Middle East, 1940-c 1946.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Contains two folders of material relating to Sergeant Francis George ‘Frank’ Clark.

Folder 1 of 2 consists of five letters and one postcard from Sergeant Clark to his wife, Mrs Genevieve Mary Clark, and his children. These letters were written during Sergeant Clark’s training in New South Wales, his embarkation, and his service in Palestine, Egypt and Libya. In his letters, Sergeant Clark writes about his plans for final home leave, his embarkation, shopping in Palestine and Egypt, receiving letters and parcels from home, enemy air raids, serving in the desert environment, inconsistent mail, defending Tobruk from the Germans, and his motivation for serving. Sergeant Clark also sends his love and best wishes to family members at home.

Folder 2 of 2 consists of letters and documents relating to the service and death of Sergeant Clark. This folder contains:
1x Letter from Sergeant Clark’s son, Bruce Clark, to Sergeant Clark, Murrumburrah, New South Wales, 1 April 1940. In his letter, Bruce Clark writes about his jobs, maintaining his car, and his plans for a holiday.
1x Poem titled ‘So Long Clarkie’ written by [unknown service number] Driver Ray Gibson, Libya, c 1941. This poem was written on the occasion of Sergeant Clark’s death.
1x Poem titled ‘One of the Best (Frank Clark)’ written by NX14804 Driver George Johnston Lenon, Libya, c 1941. This poem was written on the occasion of Sergeant Clark’s death.
1x Letter from Sergeant Clark’s friend, Mr F G Clancy, to Mrs Genevieve Mary Clark, Kurrajong, New South Wales, 8 July 1941. In his letter, Mr Clancy expresses his sympathy on the occasion of Sergeant Clark’s death, and his intention to write an article on Sergeant Clark’s life and service for the publication ‘Reveille’.
1x Letter from NX34964 Chaplain Bertram Hugh Watson to the priest of the Clark family, Libya, 21 July 1941. In his letter, Chaplain Watson informs the priest of Sergeant Clark’s desire to change religious denominations, describes Sergeant Clark’s last moments before death, and expresses sympathy to the Clark family.
1x Receipt of pay for Sergeant Clark, 22 January 1942.
1x Letter from the Department of the army, c 1946. This letter informs the recipient of the campaign stars and medals awarded to Sergeant Clark for his service in the Second World War.