Person:Edward Clarke (13)

Edward Joseph Clarke was born in Bootle, Liverpool, England on 30th August 1913, he was the eldest child of Albert and Ethel and weighed close to 12lbs when born a huge size for the petite (at that stage) Ethel. Douglas Albert Clarke was born 1917 followed by Ethel Margaret born 1918, Dorothy (Dolly) born 1920.

The family migrated to Australia leaving London on 7th September 1921 on the Benalla arriving in Sydney NSW, they settled in Auburn, a suburb of Sydney, where a sister of Ethel lived with her family. Ivy May was born here in 1924.

In 1927 the family moved to Melbourne, settling in Fraser Street, West Brunswick where they lived for many years.

Edward (Ed) did not continue with his schooling after the move to Melbourne, it is said that his father considered him to be too big to go to school anymore. He started working at approximately 14 years of age; he also started smoking at around this age. The Great Depression was starting and work soon became scarce so Ed spent a lot of his young years seeking a job. Whenever he did find work he always gave a large amount of his money to his mother to help with the family finances.

In the early 1930’s Ed joined the Air Force and was stationed at Point Cook in Victoria he continued to serve until the mid 30’s when he received an honourable discharge. It was about this time that he met Dorothy Helen Jean Menzies (Jean) at a party given by friends. They courted for many years as Ed decided that he wanted to have a large deposit for a house and to have paid for all the furniture before they were married.

During the war years Ed worked at the Munitions Factory in Maribyrnong which was a protected industry so he was exempted from war service, because of Ed’s workplace, a house was purchased at Bloomfield Road, Ascot Vale which is a nearby suburb.

Edward Joseph Clarke and Dorothy Helen Jean Menzies were married at St Judes Anglican Church in Lygon Street Carlton on 26th January, 1942. It was Australia Day so forever after Ed was pleased to have a reminder of his wedding anniversary.

Ed was a caring person who would give you the coat off his back if you asked, and would always stand up for others, especially his daughter but never strayed far from home, he did enough of that in his younger days. He was keen on birds, fish, chooks and his vegetable patch.

1. ↑ Certificate of Registry of Birth, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index. (London, United Kingdom: General Register Office, 1837-Present)
   Vol 8b Pg 612, Dec Qrt, 1913.

   Entry No. 257 of Book 57, on 9 October 1913 at Lancashire, West Derby, Bootle

2. ↑ Extract of Death Registration, in Victoria, Australia. Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates. (Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages)
   Reg. No. 21554, 1988.

   Age 75 years