KIA

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Photo of Archbold Clark.
Donated by Kate Cole, grand niece.

Archbold Clark was born in, Newcastle on Tyne, England, cir 1890, to Robert Clarke and Elizabeth Davison. Archbold had a brother, William Clark and a stepbrother, William John Hutchison Allan, who are also remembered in the Avenue. After Robert Clarke died of TB in 1903, Elizabeth (nee Davison) married William John Allan in 1909.
Elizabeth's brother, David Davison, had four sons, Alan, Norman, Robert and James, who are also remembered in the Avenue.

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Headstone at Y Farm Military Cemetery
Donated by Emma Sutherland.

Archbold was living in Bacchus Marsh, VIC and working as a farmhand when he enlisted in the AIF, 21^st Battalion, 7^th Reinforcements on the 29^th of June 1915, at the age of 25. He embarked at Melbourne aboard the HMAT A18 Wiltshire in November, disembarking in Egypt early in 1916.

At the end of February 1916 Archbold transferred to the 60^th Battalion before spending two weeks in hospital with Mumps. In June he joined his unit in the field in France. On the 19^th of July 1916, at the Battle of Fromelles, Archbold was reported missing in action - a later enquiry reported he was killed in action. The 5^th Division, of which the 60^th Battalion was a part, suffered over 5000 casualties by the time the battle was over on the morning of the 20^th of July.

Archbold Clark is buried in Y Farm Military Cemetery, France.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour and the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour. He is also remembered in the Coimadai Avenue of Honour and the Melton War Memorial.

Notes

1. Surname should be Clark - his fathers name may have been Clarke