• Victoria Cross: 1914-1918

Date of birth:

December 1st, 1892 (Waterdown/Ontario, Canada)

Date of death:

October 19th, 1916 (ÉtretatNormandy, France)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Étretat
Plot: II. Row: C. Grave: 3A.

Service number:

73132

Nationality:

Canadian

Leo Clarke spent part of his childhood in England before settling in Winnipeg with his family around 1903. Prior to enlisting, Clarke worked as a surveyor for the Canadian Northern Railway. He joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and served with the 2nd Battalion (Eastern Ontario Regiment) during World War I.

On September 9, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme near Pozières, France, Clarke displayed extraordinary bravery, an act that earned him the Victoria Cross.

Clarke died on October 19, 1916, from injuries sustained when a trench collapsed during artillery fire. He was buried in Etretat Churchyard in France. His Victoria Cross was bestowed posthumously in 1917, with his father receiving it in a public ceremony in Winnipeg. Clarke’s legacy lives on through Valour Road in Winnipeg, named in honor of him and two other Victoria Cross recipients from the same block. His medals and sidearm were donated to the Canadian War Museum, and his story has been commemorated in a Canadian Heritage Minute and through the naming of Valour FC, a professional soccer club.

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Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Rank:

Acting Corporal

Unit:

2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), Permanent Active Militia

Awarded on:

October 26th, 1916

"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 Corporal Clarke, who shot four more and captured a fifth.

Later he was ordered to the dressing-station, but returned next day to duty."

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

Period:

First World War (1914-1918)

• - SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 26 OCTOBER, 1916
  - Medal Group

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Manitoba Museum

Winnipeg - Manitoba

Victoria Cross: 1914-1918