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Clowe-C-P-Pte-478

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 4 years, 4 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Lieutenant Clarence Clowe, in France, 1917.  From the collection

of Hopkins-J-W-Pte-9.  Courtesy of Brad Hopkins.

 

Clowe C P    Pte    478    Clarence Peter       7 Inf Bn    21    Flour miller    Single    Pres       

Address:   Newmarket, Eltham St, 45   

Next of Kin:    Clowe, Robert Thomas, 213 Richardson St, Albert Park   

Enlisted:    19 Aug 1914       

Embarked:     A20 Hororata 19 Oct 1914   

Prior service:  senior cadets

 

Relatives on Active Service:

Clowe R J J A-g Sgt 5799 brother  KIA

 

A flour miller prior to enlisting, Clarence worked for Kimpton's Flour Mill.

 

 

A CALL FOR RECRUITS.

Private C. P. Clowe, formerly Brunswick's well-known half-back, writing to his father, says:- "I had a letter from one of the boys that used to go camping at Chelsea. He spoke of the good time they had had at Easter, and said they were to hold a meeting the following week to decide on a place for Christmas. I think this is damnable - to think that the thought of war never enters their heads-only pleasure, pleasure. And to remember the fine strong fellows who have fallen by our sides. ... I hope to keep dodging the lead long enough to see you again in dear old Melbourne.

 

A CALL FOR RECRUITS. (1915, July 19). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 7. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1538718

 

This story was repeated in many regional papers.

 

VERA PEARCE'S PALS

LETTERS FROM SOLDIER ADMIRERS.

Vera Pearce,  courtesy of the State Library of

Victoria collection H38782/845

 

Miss Vera Pearce is very popular with the boys at the front. Every mail brings a budget of letters to her. They come from New South Welshmen, from Victorians, Queenslanders, Westralians, Tasmanians, and sometimes from New Zealanders. Many of the boys have never met Miss Pearce, but their letters are not the less cordial for that. Here is a note that came to her a few days ago :

 

"In the trenches somewhere in France, 19/5/'16.

 

"Dear Miss Pearce, — A mail has just arrived from Australia and all the papers are full of praises for our Boomerang Girl. Kindly accept our congratulations on your recent great success at the Tivoli. In the majority of our dug outs your photograph, take from the Sunday Times, is very prominent.

 

"We three being constant patrons of the Tivoli before the war broke out do naturally enjoy reading accounts of items from that source, and we hope it will not be long before we are back to again attend the Tiv.

 

"It would be more to our liking if a few more of the fit young men amongst your audiences would don the khaki and come and give a helping hand to finish this job, and give us a chance to get back before your season closes.

 

"We three being of the first division are due for ten days' furlough in England; needless to say we will attend some of the vaudeville shows there and perhaps see some of the girls who have performed on the Tivoli stage in Melbourne.

 

"We are at present in the front line trench, but so far we have not come to grips with Fritz, so we cannot compare his fighting qualities with those of Abdul ; but we believe the latter to be a far superior fighter.

 

"As three ardent admirers of your prowess on the stage we would value very much a 'dinkum' photograph of yourself as a souvenir, we will, in return, forward you at first opportunity a souvenir of the battlefield.

 

'Wishing you all sorts of successes in the future, we remain, three boys of the old brigade.

 

193 E. C. SUMMERS, Sgt., 300 J. G. DANIEL. Sgt**;, 478 C. P. CLOWE. Sgt., all of A Company, 7th Battalion, 2nd Inf. Bdg, 1st Australian Division."

 

VERA PEARCE'S PALS. (1916, August 5). Arrow (Sydney, NSW : 1916 - 1933), p. 3. Retrieved April 10, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115736139

 

**Eli Charles Summers, tram conductor, 23 of Brunswick

James Gardiner Daniel, bank clerk, 25, of Kyneton

 

Flemington-Kensington Church News, May 1917

 

No 478 Sergt Clarence P Clowe, 7th Batt is at the present time an Instructor in trench warfare at Larkhall Camp, Salisbury Plains.  He was one of the 1st Expeditionary Force, and therefore a Gallipoli veteran.  He has also seen much service at the West front.  Like most of our war-worn men he is staunch to see the thing through to complete victory.  Near acquaintanceship with Fritz does not improve one's liking.  His letters are cheerful in tone and he must appreciate the temporary change from the trenches to camp life in England.  For him there are no delusions concerning the length of the war and he considers we will be fortunate to finish this side of Christmas.

 

OUR HONOR ROLL.

Promotion.

 

Sergeant C. P. Clowe, son of Mr. R. T. Clowe, of Middle Park, 7th Battalion, has been promoted second lieutenant. He left in October, 1914, went through Gallipoli and the advance on the Somme, where his elder brother was killed, last February. After six months at Salisbury as instructor, he went back to France in August.

 

OUR HONOR ROLL. (1917, December 8). Record (Emerald Hill, Vic. : 1881 - 1900; 1914 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved June 19, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75014611

 

 

 

Sound Recording:

Merriman and Clowe speak of their attitudes to the Gallipoli campaign and to war in general; mateship and the long-term friendships they made during their period of service; what it means to be an ANZAC in the 1970s; daily life on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915; the landing at Gallipoli 25 April, 1915; how their experiences at ANZAC Cove has affected them both physically and emotionally; their families' reactions to their departure for war; their views on the celebration of ANZAC day.

http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/S02008

 

Mentioned in this correspondence:

Stelling-Gus-Letter-from-Cairo Sep-Oct 1915 

Flemington-Kensington Church News, July 1918, article relating to Stewart-A-L-Pte-7325

Flemington-Kensington Church News, December 1918 letter from Vallance J C Driver 33352

 

War Service Commemorated

Flemington-Presbyterian-Church

Patriotic Concert, Essendon Town Hall, 1914

“Send off to the Essendon Boys”  

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour With the Colours

Regimental Register 

 

 

IN MEMORIAM.

CLOWE. -In loving memory of our dear mother,

who passed away at South Kensington, July 14, 1912.  

If your grave could only open,

Many changes you would see,

Though by some you are forgotten.

We will ever think of thee.  

Kind friends lament the sad event,  

And sympathise with us this day.

-inserted by her loving children, Robert, Clarence

(active service abroad), and Minerva, St. Kilda)

 

Family Notices. (1916, July 14). The Argus

 (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 1.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1625456

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