Obituaries Australia

Lancelot Clarke, c1914

Australian War Memorial, H15783

Lieut.-Col. (Hon. Colonel) Lancelot Fox Clarke, D.S.O., V.D., was commanding the 12th Infantry Battalion, which comprised troops from Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia, and which had its headquarters in Tasmania. He was 57 years of age. He received his first commission in 1884, and was appointed lieutenant in 1884, and attained his captaincy four years later. He was appointed major in the Field Artillery Brigade (Victoria) in 1893. Col. Clarke saw active service in the South African war, in which he fought from 1900 to 1902. He served with the Rhodesian Field Force. In the Transvaal he was officer commanding the North Western Districts, and also acted as Administrator No. 13 for the Martial Law Area of Cape Colony. He had command of the 4th V.M.R. from February 22, 1901, to June 23 of the same year, and was mentioned in despatches on April 23 and July 9, 1901. He was awarded a Queen's medal with four clasps, and King's medal with two clasps. The wife of the deceased officer is a granddaughter of Dr. H. B. Hinton, who, on March 7, celebrated the 102nd anniversary of his birth. Mr. Fox Clarke is at present residing in Adelaide.