Charles Ephraim Clarke

A Gunner with 145th Siege Battery. Charles died on 4th of June 1917.

Charles was born at Stradbroke, Suffolk, in 1897, a son of Edgar and Caroline Clarke. In 1901 his family lived at Church Lane, Stradbroke. In 1911 they lived at Chapel Cottages, Stradbroke, and Charles was an errand boy.

Charles' brother George Clarke lived at 21 Lothing Street, Oulton Broad Lowestoft.

Charles was working as a bricklayer's labourer when he enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery, at Eye, Suffolk, on 22 February 1916. He arrived in France on 21 August 1916 with 145 Siege Battery. In March 1917 he was hospitalised with pleurisy, but returned to duty. 

We do not know when, or how, he was wounded, but Charles died from wounds at 9th Australian Casualty Clearing Station. His personal effects, two picture postcards, twelve photographs and his New Testament, were sent to his father.