Private Clarence Melville Wilks
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- 4313
- Unit
- 11 Battalion
- Cause of death
- Killed in Action
- Place of death
- Bullecourt, France
- Date of death
- 7 May 1917
- Age
- 21
- Plaque number
- M42A
- Co-located plaques
- M42 - PTE Percival Strauss
- Dedicated by
- Family on 18 August 2012
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private Clarence Melville Wilks of 11 Battalion was born in June 1895 at Albany, Western Australia. He was one of nine sons and seven daughters born to Alfred and Elizabeth Wilks.
Two of his brothers served in World War 1 and went on to serve with another two brothers in World War 2.
Clarence attended Wiluna primary school when it was first opened in 1900. After leaving school, he was employed as telegraphist and postal officer with the Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) at Lawlers, Carnamah and Mount Barker.
Clarence enlisted at Albany in September 1915 and, after training at Blackboy Hill Military Camp, embarked on HMAT Boarda at Fremantle January 1916.
He arrived at Suez in February and joined 11 Battalion at Serapeum, Egypt in March and then sailed on HMT Corsican from Alexandria to Marseilles.
In June, he was hospitalised with mumps and after returning to his unit was wounded in July; he was evacuated to England and hospital at Cambridge with serious leg injuries.
Clarence recovered from his wounds and returned to his unit in December 1916.
Private Clarence Melville Wilks, service number 4313 of 11 Battalion, was killed in action at the second battle of Bullecourt on 7 May 1917. He was 21 years of age.
His plaque is placed alongside that of a known relative, Private Percival Strauss of 11 Battalion, who was killed in action in September 1917.