The AIF Project

Clarence Oscar POWER

Regimental number2879
Place of birthSurrey Hills New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationClerk
AddressHerald Office, Sydney, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25
Next of kinFather, Thos Power, Herald Office, Sydney, New South Wales
Enlistment date27 January 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Field Ambulance, C Section
AWM Embarkation Roll number26/48/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A31 Ajana on 31 May 1915
From Embarkation Records it is not possible to distinguish exactly which ship members of this unit sailed on. Two ships left from Sydney: the 'Ajana' on 31 May 1915 carrying three officers and 98 men and the 'Ceramic' on 25 June 1915 carrying three officers and 129 men.
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Field Ambulance
FateReturned to Australia 31 March 1919
Medals

Military Medal

'The men [2879 C.O. POWER, 2953 A. FORREST, 13629 E.C. MUNRO, 2807 B.C. BARWICK] formed a stretcher squad carrying wounded on May 3rd North of NOREUIL during the intensity of the bombardment. While so engaged they were in the vicinity of a Trench Mortar Shell Dump near NOREUIL, when an enemy shell fell in the dump causing a fire and great explosion killing and wounding a number of men near by. The stretcher squad with utter disregard of danger rushed to the spot and attended the wounded and carried them away in safety, in spite of a intense enemy barrage following on the explosion. They carried wounded continuously for 36 hours in spite of heavy barrages. Between the hours of 4 and 6 a.m. on that date the barrage was particularly heavy and there were no troops moving on the road at the time on account of the heavy fire. In spite of this 28 cases were carried 1 3/4 miles to a place of safety. During this time they frequently stopped to attend to wounded on the way.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189
Date: 8 November 1917

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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