The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (2621) Sergeant Frederick Goodwin Clark, 55th Battalion, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Meredith Duncan, the story for this day was on (2621) Sergeant Frederick Goodwin Clark, 55th Battalion, First World War.

2621 Sergeant Frederick Goodwin Clark, 55th Battalion
DOW 3 September 1918
Photograph: P07564.001

Story delivered 3 April 2014

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant Frederick Goodwin Clark.

Fred Clark was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, the seventh son of Gordon and Isabella Clark. He was educated at the public school in Bathurst, but sometime after this the family moved to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. Here Fred gained employment as a fitter in the Gas Works, and had worked there for more than four years when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915.

Clark was sent to Egypt with reinforcements to the 17th Battalion. Shortly after his arrival he became sick with the mumps, and did not make it to Anzac Cove. When the AIF evacuated from Gallipoli and returned to Egypt it underwent a period of reorganisation and training, and as a part of this process Clark was transferred to the 55th Battalion. He arrived in France to fight on the Western Front in June 1916.

Clark went on to serve his battalion quietly, coming through such battles as Fromelles and Polygon Wood. He was promoted to corporal before the Polygon Wood battle in August 1917, and a year later was promoted again to sergeant, marking his capability as a soldier. Otherwise, he earned neither censure nor praise but, as his local newspaper at home described it, "had three years of active service doing his duty, and well and nobly served his King and the Empire".

After coming through unscathed from some operations that had seen the 55th Battalion suffer heavy casualties, Clark was eventually sent to hospital early in 1918 after being gassed during the German Offensive. He recovered after some months, and was granted furlough, which he used to visit relatives in Scotland. He wrote a cheerful letter home to his parents to tell them what a good time he had there.

He had been back in the firing line for only a few weeks when, as reported in Australia, "Fate, in the shape of a German bullet, ended a most promising life." In early September the 55th Battalion was ordered to participate in the capture of the high ground near the French village of Péronne with the rest of the 14th Brigade. The attack was conducted under continuous machine-gun fire from nearby, and the 55th took up defensive positions on Mont St Quentin, still under heavy fire. Sergeant Fred Clark was hit in the arm, chest, and thigh. Although he was evacuated from the front line, he died under medical care shortly afterward.

His parents, sister, and brothers remembered "a brave young life which promised well", and noted that "his sacrifice was not in vain, thank God for victory gained". Fred Clark died just shy of his 24th birthday.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War, and his photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant Frederick Goodwin Clark, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.