Leo was born in Stanley, Tasmania on the 2nd of January 1917 to Charles and Ivy Maude Clarke.
Leo was working as a farm hand at ‘The Bend’ Barrington when he enlisted in Paddington on the 4th of June 1940 listing his mother Ivy Maude Radford of Leongatha, Victoria as his next of kin (NOK).
He marched in to RRD and was posted to 1 Training Battalion at the Showground on the 4th of June 1940. On the 17th of June, Leo was detached to Cooking School at Liverpool after which he was transferred to RERC on the 7th of August after which he was taken on strength ex 3rd RR on the 8th. On the 13th of August he was transferred to 2/4th Field Pk Coy Egs and on the 20th of August was appointed to Specialist Group II. He was again transferred to H.Q. RAE 8th Division on the 9th of October. While there he received a reprimand on the 18th of October for being AWL for 24 hours from 06:30 the previous day. He was then transferred to the 2/15th Army Field Company Engineers on the 15th of November.
Leo reported sick with tonsillitis and was admitted to the Emergency Hospital on the 14th of December and was discharged back to his to unit on the 18th of December. He was immediately granted pre-embarkation leave from the 18th of December until 29th of December. His marriage to Ethel Mary Eleanor Westerman was registered in Burwood in 1941 just prior to his embarkation overseas aboard the HMAT US9 on the 3rd of February.
During the voyage, between the 10th and 17th of February Leo was admitted to ship’s hospital with tonsillitis. After arrival in the Middle East, he again suffered tonsillitis and was admitted to the 1st Australian General Hospital (AGH) at Gaza Ridge on the 26th of March. On the 2nd of April he was discharged to his unit, where he arrived the next day.
On the 20th of April Leo was back at the 1 AGH with the same affliction where he remained until the until the 3rd of May, when he rejoined his unit.
From the 18th to the 25th of August Leo was detached to the 2/3rd Field Park Company.
Sadly, Leo died as a result of a motor accident on the 5th of November 1941.
A Court of Inquiry was held in Tripoli on the 10th of November 1941 which was presided over by Major J.L Amies of the 2/31st Btn. after hearing the testimony of 10 witnesses Maj. Amies concluded:
Sapper Clarke was on duty as a dispatch rider travelling at high speed. He skidded while braking as he approached a carrier which put a strain on the working parts causing the front fork bottom rear spindle to break as it approached a carrier throwing him off and hitting the carrier. Sapper Clarke suffered a compound fracture of the skull in the motorcycle accident at the Lattaquie Road Syria 11:30am on the 5th of November 1941 and died of his injuries at 12:25 hours, aged 24 years .
Leo was buried at the Beirut British War Cemetery, Syria (now Lebanon). Grave 1.D.1 on the 6th of November 1941.
