Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Leo Clarke
In memory of:
Corporal Leo Clarke
October 19, 1916
Military Service
72132
23
Army
Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)
2nd Battalion
An extract from The London Gazette," No. 29802, dated October 26, 1916, records the following:
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.
Victoria Cross
Additional Information
December 1, 1892
Hamilton, Ontario
February 25, 1915
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Son of Henry Trevelyan Clarke and Rossetta Caroline Nona Clarke, of 785 Pine St., Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Fred Hall, Leo Clarke and Robert Shankland all lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They all happened to live on the same street, Pine Street and it is believed to be the only street in the world to have three Victoria Cross recipients that lived there.
The city of Winnipeg later renamed it Valour Road in honour of the men. A bronze plaque is mounted on a street lamp at the corner of Portage Ave and Valour Road to tell this story.
Commemorated on Page 67 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Leo Clarke is a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Complete list of Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients
Burial Information
ETRETAT CHURCHYARD
Seine-Maritime, France
N/A
Etretat is a small seaside town in the Department of the Seine-Maritime about 26 kilometres north of Le Havre. The ETRETAT CHURCHYARD is on the road from the station to the town on the D.940 from Fecamp and the Extension is on the south-east side of it, between the church and the railway.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
-
Details
Honour roll – Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross. -
Details
Photo of Leo Clarke – Submitted by Operation Picture Me. -
Details
Attestation Paper (front) -
Details
Attestation Paper (back) -
Details
Medical Records -
Details
Medical Records (front) -
Details
Medical Records (back) -
Details
Circumstances of Death Registers – Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: CHILD TO CLAYTON. Microform Sequence 20; Volume Number 31829_B016729. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 164. Page 901 of 1068 -
Details
Newspaper clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune during World War One. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune during World War One. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune during World War One. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Details
Newspaper clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune during World War One. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
Details
Victoria Cross Presenation – Henry Clarke receiving Leo Clarke's Victoria Cross. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me. -
Details
Valour Road Plaque – Valour Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba -
Details
Award Citation -
Details
Cenotaph – Barrie Miltary Park, Canadian Victorian Cross Recipients, Cenotaph -
Details
Gravemarker -
Details
Memorial – Leo Clarke VC 1892-1916, Waterdown, Hamilton Street North & White Clark Drive -
Details
Grave marker – Taken June 7, 2016. Stopped to pay our respects on the way from the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-mer to Ypres (where we also paid our respects to Franklin William Hall at the Menin Gate). Both winners of the VC from Pine Street (Valour Road) in Winnipeg.
Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial
To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.
- Date modified: