John’s occupation and marital status upon enlistment, was detailed as a gold miner, who was single.
- Date of Birth – 1869 in Araluen.1National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B2455, Clarke J J, Item ID– 1969911, Accessed 18 August 2026
- Parents – James Clarke and Jane Webb. John’s next of kin on enlistment was detailed as his sister, Mrs M A Colley, from Hawthorne, Mosman near Sydney, New South Wales.
- Enlisted – 17 September 1914, Sydney, New South Wales. Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board Transport A29 Suevic on 21 December 19142University of NSW AIF project https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=54351Accessed 18 August 2026
- Regimental Number – 6633Karen Nelson, Marching Home to Braidwood. Braidwood RSL. UPS, Ulladulla, NSW. 2016. p 36
- Aged at embarkation – 454Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2020733 Accessed 18 August 2026
- Military service – 2nd and 6th Light Horse Brigade, Headquarters, Rank – Trooper5Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/133112 Accessed 18 August 2026
- John served in the 2nd Light Horse Brigade HQ, ANZAC / Gallipoli, and landed at Gallipoli. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal.
- Returned to Australia on HMAT Wiltshire on 12 November 1917.
- On 15 June 1918, John was discharged as Trooper 663, 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment, medically unfit, with a pension, due to the strain of active service. John died nine days later on 24 June 1918, from debility and strain of active service, at the 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, aged 49 years6NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Death – 6761/1918 Parents James and Jane. Registered in Randwick. Accessed 29 August 2026
- John is buried at Zone C Section H Grave 173, Rookwood Cemeteries & Crematorium, New South Wales7Find a Grave.com https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/188499515/john-clarke Accessed 18 August 2026
John was the eldest son of James Clarke and Jane Webb (1841-1912) who had five children following their marriage in August 1864,8NSW Birth Death and Marriages, https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/ Marriage – 1711/1864 James Clark and Jane Webb. Registered in Braidwood. Accessed 29 August 2026 in Braidwood. Elizabeth R.M. (1866-1867), John James (1869-1918), James William G.H.H. (1870-1938), Alice Maud (1872-1963) and Daniel William (1874- ).
John noted on his enlistment papers that he served in the BOER War (Service Number 2127) with the 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles. His occupation was given as a labourer and aged thirty. John’s younger brother James William, known as William (Service Number 2222) also joined the 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles. John joined B Squadron, and William served with E Squadron, departing from Australia in March 1901 and returning on the 3 June1902. 9P.L. Murray’s ‘Official records of the Australian military contingents to the war in South Africa, 1899-1902’, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1416414 South Africa, 1899-1902 (Boer War) John SERN 2127, p 125 and William SERN 2222 p 135 Accessed 30 August 2026 The 3rd Mounted Rifles was the sixth and final contingent sent by New South Wales to the war. The regiment travelled to South Africa in groups. B and D Squadrons were the first to leave Australia, sailing from Sydney on 15 March 1901 on board the transport Maplemore. A, C, and E Squadrons, and the regimental staff, followed six days later on the British Princess. In May 1902 the regiment embarked at Cape Town for Australia, leaving on 4 May and reaching Sydney on 3 June, after having stopped at Albany, Adelaide, and Melbourne.10Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U52010 Accessed 30 August 2026
John’s younger brother William (SERN 355) enlisted 25 September 1914, aged 42 years, serving in the 13th Battalion, and returned to Australia 24 June 1916. In August 1917, the Sydney Morning Herald11Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Monday 6 August 1917, p 9. reported “Corporal W. Clarke, brother of Mrs. H. N. Colley, of Mosman, was on Friday last awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery at Gallipoli. He returned to Australia with sickness, but left again recently with munition workers. His brother, Trooper J. J. Clarke, has been on active service since the outbreak of war.’
Both John and Willliam gave the name of their sister Maud Alice Colley as their next of kin upon their enlistment in September 1914. Maud Alice Clarke married Hubert Colley (1870-1951) in 1890.
John returned to Australia on HMAT Wiltshire on 12 November 1917 and was discharged as medically unfit on the 15 June 1918. John died nine days later on 24 June 1918 at Randwick Hospital. Notices were published in the Sydney Morning Herald12Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842-1954), Tuesday 25 June 1918, p 6. ROLL OF HONOUR.
- ‘CLARKE.—At No. 4 General Hospital, Randwick, Trooper J. J. Clarke, late of 6th L.H., after 3½ years’ service, dearly beloved brother of Mrs. and Mr. H. N. Colley, of Mosman Bay. A soldier and a man.
- CLARKE.—Trooper J. J. Clarke, at No. 4 General Hospital, Randwick, after 3½ years’ service, dearly loved brother of W. Clarke, late of 13th Batt., now abroad munition making. His duty nobly done’.