Corporal Clarence Davidson
RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.Clarence Davidson was one of the first to join the Australian Infantry Force (AIF) from Port Pirie, South Australia, on the 19th August 1914, 3 weeks after war was declared.
Clarence was the fourth son of Richard and Sarah Ann Davidson (nee Ward) of Wandearah East and was farming at Wandearah when he enlisted at 21 years of age. He had been schooled at Wandearah North Public School and was a member of the Wandearah East Methodist Church. He was a good cricketer and well-liked by a large circle of friends.
Before joining the colours, Clarence had 18 months military experience in the Light Horse…probably the 24th Light Horse Regiment (Flinders) where he had attained the rank of Sergeant.
Clarence embarked at Adelaide per “A17” Port Lincoln on the 22nd October 1914 and sailed overseas for Egypt where he spent his 22nd birthday in camp. He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 9th May 1915.
Less than a month later on the 4th June, Clarence was seriously wounded in action against the Turks in Monash Valley. A gunshot wound to the penis and bladder saw him transferred to the 4th Field Ambulance and then onto St. Andrews Hospital in Malta where he died six days later.
Clarence is buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery in Triq Id-Duluri, Pieta, Malta and also commemorated at the Wandearah Cemetery.
HIS MEMORY LIVES WITHIN THE HEARTS OF THOSE THAT KNEW HIS WORTH
Footnote: His brother 497 Trooper Lindsay Davidson of the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment also enlisted and returned to Australian at the end of 1919.
