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Clark R J   Pte  2040

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 9 years, 5 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Clark R J     Pte    2040    Ralph James         2 Field Amb    23    Clerk    Single    C of E        

Address:    Ascot Vale, Kent St, 52    

Next of Kin:    Clark, Peter, father, 52 Kent St, Ascot Vale    

Enlisted:    11 Sep 1914        

Embarked:     A18 Wiltshire 19 Oct 1914    

 

Saturday 6th February 1915- Diary of HV Reynolds

 

I went out to the pyramid camp at Mena with Ralph Clark and we had a good time, we had tea at the 2nd Field Ambulance mess room with some friends of my mates. We got a donkey each and rode around the Sphinx, the price of the ride was 1 piaster each. It was pretty dark and we could not see much of the place, although the ride was a novel one. The little village near the road is very interesting, all the establishments have typical Australian names*.'

 

Sunday 7th February 1915 - Diary of HV Reynolds

 

'Ralph Clark and myself went over to Luna Park at Heliopolis and has such a good time, this place is not equal to the one at St. Kilda, but the prices are very much lower. They have a winter chute, scenic railway and other side shows, the place has been closed up for a time and has only been going since the troops arrived here.'

 

Mrs. P. Clark, of Kent street, Ascot Vale, has received a cablegram to the effect that her son, Private R. J. Clark, has been admitted to the hospital at Birmingham, suffering from sickness.

 

CORPORAL HARRY WEBB. (1915, October 21). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590447

 

OUR SOLDIERS  

Private Ralph J. Clark writes a very exhaustive letter to his parents, setting forth his experiences since leaving Egypt. The following extracts may be interesting to our readers. While waiting at Lemnos Harbour, he says the boys were like children looking forward to a picnic. The night before the landing, Private Clark and his mates slept beside their stretchers and first aid outfits, and when morning dawned the guns were booming and the boys had got the real thing at last. While being towed to the beach, Clark expresses his feeling as one of imaginative expectation. On landing there was plenty of work for the ambulance men, who worked all day dressing wounds and getting the injured to the beach. The din was awful caused by the bursting of shells, the roar of the broadsides from the men-o'-war, the crack of rifles, and the agonising cries of the wounded. The ambulance men, in their merciful work, had many narrow escapes. Private Clark was slightly wounded in the thigh. After taking things quietly for a day, he went again into the hills, and became separated from his mates. He wandered into a trench, and dressed wounds there. The lieutenant in charge of a machine gun section asked him to stay handy, as there was plenty of shrapnel flying about, and his services might be needed. He spent the best part of the day with these chaps. When the troops had secured a good footing, and were entrenched, the work of the ambulance men was not so heavy, and they were able to get a little rest.

 

While at Cape Helles, Private Clark witnessed a bayonet charge by the French Infantry which he described as a magnificent sight. A look round the forts at Cape Helles and Seddul Barr displayed the havoc wrought by the guns of the navy. The fighting at Cape Helles was very fierce, and plenty of work was there for the ambulance men, who were hard put to it in caring for the wounded. There was a spell after this arduous labour; and soon after orders were received to proceed back to their original place. So they embarked on a mine sweeper and travelled by night to their old camp. The Turks made a determined attack to gain back some lost ground, but failed, and lost heavily in the attempt. Private Clark had a peep through a periscope, and the space between our firing line and the Turks was literally strewn with bodies. In connection with this engagement, Private Clark remarks on the coincidence that an armistice to bury their dead should have been allowed on 24th May, the day we in Australia are celebrating Empire Day.

 

OUR SOLDIERS. (1915, October 28). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590535

 

AN ANZAC'S VISIT TO KILLARNEY'S LAKES AND DELLS.

 

The following has been received by us from Ralph J. Clark, a soldier of the Essendon district:

 

17th December, 1915 (Friday evening).

At 8.45 p.m., I left London from Euston station on the Irish mail in a compartment full of soldiers; so, as a result, I did not get any sleep en route. Eventually arrived at Holyhead, in Wales, about 3 a.m., then embarked on the packet boat in which we were to cross the Irish Sea. I slumbered all the way over, and was awakened when the boat arrived off Kingston. Day had broken, so it was now the

18th (Saturday).-I entered a train bound for Cork, and was told I would, have to change at a place called Mallow. Before arriving at this station, I managed to swallow a "bacheesh" breakfast, which I enjoyed, having had nothing to eat since the evening meal I had in London the previous night. On alighting at Mallow, I found that I had two and a half hours' wait for a train to my destination. I went for a stroll down the town, and in consequence of my uniform, I was a source of interest to the inhabitants. They have not, evidently, set their eyes on an Australian soldier before. On arriving back at the station, a train came in from Cork, and amongst the passengers was a fellow Anzac. We entered into conversation with each other in the usual Colonial style. It was his intention to go to Killarney also. Therefore, we decided to go together, and thus spend our sojourn in the Lake District. After a rather long wait, we at last got on the train for Killarney, which was reached at about 4.30 p.m. On alighting we immediately drove to our hotel and were shown our room. Then we indulged in a good wash, and sat down to enjoy a square meal, served up in Irish style. The landlord said he would make arrangements for a trip on the morrow, so off to bed we went, yours truly being very tired, through having practically no sleep the night before. 19th (Sunday).-Astir early, we did justice to a good breakfast. Then we set out in a conveyance to visit the Gap of Dunloe and the Lakes. The route lies along the Northern Lake for about six miles, where the exquisite mountain scenery comes into view, assuming most interesting features as you proceed, until Kate Kearney's cottage is reached. Here you alight, and proceed through the Gap, either on ponies or by foot. We hired a couple of ponies. The distance through the Gap to Lords of Brandon's cottage, where boats lie in readiness, is not more than three miles (Irish miles, you ken.) Some wonderful echoes are produced in various parts of the pass. Luncheon was ready for us on the boat, which was awaiting us at the landing stage on the Upper Lake. We then proceeded across the Upper Lake to the Eagle's Nest Mountain. Our boat then shot the rapids at the old Weir Bridge, and stopped a short time at the meeting of the waters. After passing through the Middle and Lower Lakes, we landed at Ross Castle, which looked very weird in the dusk. Here a boat was pulled up, and we alighted to find a car waiting to take us back to the hotel. This trip I thoroughly enjoyed, and we both went to our beds well satisfied with our day's outing.

20th (Monday).-As yesterday, a jaunting car was ready for us at 10 a.m., outside the hotel, to take us for a drive through the lovely demesne of Muckross; then proceeding to the fine old ruins of Mukross Abbey. We drove through the rest of the estate to the Lake shore and passed Colleen Bawin Rock; then over Brickeen Bridge to Dinis Island, and Cottage. We went inside the cottage and bought some souvenirs and postcards, some of which I have sent to, the people at home. Passing from the Demesne, we went via the famous princes of Wales route to Tore Cascade, where we   alighted and climbed to the top of the waterfall. Here a magnificent view of the Middle and Lower Lakes was obtained. We then proceeded back to our hotel, passing through the Village of Muckross. This excursion for variety and grandeur of scenery is simply unequalled, and by those that can appreciate Nature's beauties, will not be forgotten.  

21st (Tuesday).-As we intend catching the train to Dublin this afternoon, we have only half of a day at this place to go for a drive through, the Earl of Kenmare's Deer Park, and on to the heights of Aghadoe to visit the old church ruins, the view from which is one of the finest in the district. The whole of the Lower Lake is seen; broken up by islands and peninsulas, beautifully wooded. We drove through Lord Kenimire's estate, had a good look over the castle, and again we were besieged by the caretaker, who had postcards to sell. After a drive through Roos Island we eventually got back to our hotel. I shall never forget my trip to Killarney and I quite understand why the Irish are so proud of their lakes.   There is very little else to write about. After spending a couple of days in Dublin, I reached London again on Christmas Eve. This Anzac wants to tour his own country now, and the sooner the better.

 

AN ANZAC'S VISIT TO KILLARNEY'S LAKES AND DELLS. (1916, March 16). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 27, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74592252

 

Private Ralph J. Clark, Kent st, Ascot Vale, arrived from the front on Sunday in the Ascanius, on furlough on duty. He left Moonee Ponds with the first contingent in October, 1914. He was in Gallipoli for 16 weeks and while there was blown up and buried alive at Lonesome Pine. He was dug out, and had both collar bones fractured. He was invalided to Alexandria and then to England, at both of which places he spent some time in the hospital, and then went on furlough through the British Isles. He expects to return to the front shortly. 


 WITH THE COLOURS. (1916, May 4). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 29, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74592826

 

 

 

Mentioned in this publication

Letter to his father by Anderson-J-G-Driver-2204-England-and-France-1917 published in the Essendon Gazette 4 Jan 1917.

 

War Service Commemorated

Essendon Town Hall A-F

Essendon State School

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours

Regimental Register

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