219850 Sgt. Leo Clarke VC.Canadian Expeditionary Forces 2nd Btn. Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment). from:Winnipeg, Manitoba (d.19th Oct 1916) Leo Clarke was the son of Henry Trevelyan Clarke and Rossetta Caroline Nona Clarke, of 785, Pine St., Winnipeg, Manitoba.
He served with the 2nd Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment and was killed in action on 19th October1916, aged 24 and is buried in 24. Plot II. C. 3A in the Etretat Churchyard in France.
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29802, dated 24th October., 1916, records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery. He was detailed with his section of bombers to clear the continuation of a newly-captured trench and cover the construction of a "block." After most of his party had become casualties, he was building a block when about twenty of the enemy with two officers counter-attacked. He boldly advanced against them, emptied his revolver into them and afterwards two enemy rifles which he picked up in the trench. One of the officers then attacked him with the bayonet, wounding him in the leg, but he shot him dead. The enemy then ran away, pursued by Acting Cpl. Clarke, who shot four more and captured a fifth."
|