"Willie" / "Billy" / "Bill" William Ernest CLARK
Born 17 September 1914 in Moora, Western Australia [16]
Son of "Teddy" Edgar James CLARK and Mary Ellen CONNELLY [P35]
Resided with his parents in Carnamah and was educated at the Carnamah State School [P35]
Won a 1st prize for Drawing and a 2nd for Pads in the Children's Section at the Annual Show in Carnamah in 1923 [86: 4-Oct-1923]
Attended the Carnamah Children's Fancy Dress Ball as a "Golliwog" on Saturday 15 October 1927 [9: 21-Oct-1927]
Apprentice Mechanic at the garage of D. Standish O'GRADY in Carnamah for the five years 1930-1935 [5: 14-Nov-1941]
Won the Boys 14-16 years Running Race at the Sports Day & Picnic at Centenary Park, Carnamah on 9 October 1930 [4: 18-Oct-1930]
Member of the Carnamah Football Club 1931-1934 [4: 29-Mar-1931, 15-Sep-1934] [5: 5-Aug-1932]
Contestant in the first ever boxing tournament held in Carnamah in early 1932[4: 6-Feb-1932]
Played for the Bachelors in a 'Benedicts verses Bachelors' cricket match in Carnamah on Sunday 18 December 1932 [5: 23-Dec-1932]
In late 1933 in partnership with his brother Eddie purchased David BANDY's house and block with fruit trees and vines [5: 24-Nov-1933]
Member of the Carnamah Cricket Club in 1932-33 and 1933-34 [4: 16-Dec-1933] [5: 28-Oct-1932]
Fractured his hand at a football match on 4 September 1932, at the conclusion of which Carnamah won the Premiership [5: 9-Sep-1932]
Competitor in John A. KENNY's Billiard Tournament conducted within Mackie's Buildings in Carnamah in 1933 [5: 26-May-1933]
Member of the Carnamah Athletic Club in 1933 [5: 9-Jun-1933]
Fought a five round bout against Jack PRATER at the Boxing Tournament held in Moora on 24 June 1933 [5: 9-Jun-1933]
Contestant in the Carnamah Athletic Club's Boxing Tournament in Carnamah on Saturday 8 July 1933 [5: 30-Jun-1933, 14-Jul-1933]
Played and helped Carnamah win the Football Grand Final on 20 August 1933; was one of the "most prominent" players [5: 25-Aug-1933]
Attended the Carnamah Church of England's New Year Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 December 1933 [5: 5-Jan-1934]
Participated in the Perenjori Agricultural Society's Boxing Tournament in Perenjori on Saturday 10 March 1934 [5: 16-Mar-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Smoke Social held in Carnamah on Thursday 26 April 1934 [5: 4-May-1934]
Attended Emily H. TURNER's 21st Birthday at Karragee Farm in Carnamah on Tuesday 8 May 1934 [5: 11-May-1934]
On Saturday 12 May 1934 attended the Carnamah Football Club's Grand Opening Ball at the Carnamah Hall [5: 18-May-1934]
Attended the Dance held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 30 June 1934 to raise funds for Church organ repairs [5: 6-Jul-1934]
Attended the Inering School Dance held at the Carnamah Hall to raise money for books on Saturday 21 July 1934 [5: 27-Jul-1934]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Premiership Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 20 October 1934 [5: 26-Oct-1934]
Member of Carnamah's Parkinson Tennis Club in 1934-35 [5: 2-Nov-1934] [56]
Prior to leaving the district he was tendered a Farewell Evening in Carnamah on Wednesday 30 January 1935 [5: 1-Feb-1935]
After the singing of For He's a Jolly Good Fellow he said he deeply regretted leaving the district in which he had been brought up [5]
Left Carnamah on Thursday 31 January 1935 to work as a Mechanic at Emmett GILL's garage in Mullewa [5: 25-Jan-1935, 1-Feb-1935]
Spent a few days in Carnamah in late March 1935 before travelling to Kalgoorlie[5: 29-Mar-1935]
Reported to have shifted to Perth in April 1935 to have a "run" with the Victoria Park Football Club's league team [5: 5-Apr-1935]
Visited Carnamah over the first weekend in June 1935, by which time he was employed in Perth [5: 7-Jun-1935]
In August 1935 he was appointed Foreman of Aubrey G. MELROSE's garage in Saint George's Terrace, Perth [5: 30-Aug-1935]
Travelled from Perth to Carnamah to visit his parents during the last weekend of June 1936 [5: 3-Jul-1936]
During November 1937 his engagement was announced to Doreen Mary WHITE of the Perth suburb of Subiaco [310: 13-Nov-1937]
Best man at the wedding of former Carnamah resident Arthur BOOTH and Billee STOKES in Perth in 1938 [66] [0: image 03716]
Resided in West Perth prior to enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force on 18 June 1940 [16]
Leading Aircraftman 16876 in the 148th Squadron of the Royal Australian Air Force during the Second World War [18] [52]
While on leave in late December 1940 travelled to Carnamah with his wife and daughter to visit his parents and siblings [0: image 03990]
Returned to active service and was Killed in Action in a flying battle in the Middle East on 6 November 1941 [18]
Buried in the Fayid War Cemetery, Egypt [17]
His name appears on the Carnamah War Memorial and on Carnamah's Roll of Honour[35]
Husband of Doreen [17] [18] and father of Lois [P35]
From The North Midland Times newspaper, Friday 14 November 1941:
"Obituary - Vale Leading Aircraftsman W. Clark. The news was received in Carnamah last week-end to the effect that Leading Aircraftsman W. ("Billy") Clark had paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving with the R.A.A.F. in the Middle East. The late "Billy" Clark was the son of Mr. E. J. ("Teddie") Clark, of Carnamah, and Mrs. Clark, of Victoria Park. He was born at Carnamah and was educated at the Carnamah State school. Upon leaving school he was employed at Mr. D. S. O'Grady's garage, and served his time as a mechanic. During the whole of this time he showed a remarkable aptitude for sport in all its branches, and like the whole Clark family was an outstanding footballer and cricketer, excelling particularly at football. Above all, he always played the game as it should be played. After serving his five years' apprenticeship he moved to the city, where he was employed as a salesman at Atkins Motors. Later he embarked in business on his own. During latter years he almost forsook his home town, but the majority of the older residents will have little difficulty in recalling this pleasing personality. A widow and small child are left to mourn their loss, and to them and his sorrowing mother and father and brothers and sisters our deepest sympathy is extended. Vale "Billy" Clark; he died that we might live. Two other brothers Eddie (Air Force) and George (A.I.F.) are also on active service abroad."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'William Ernest Clark' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 20 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/william-ernest-clark [reference list] |
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