Leo Clarke (VC)
| Lionel Beaumaurice Clarke | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Leo |
| Born | 1 December 1892 Waterdown, Ontario |
| Died | 19 October 1916 France |
| Buried | Etretat Churchyard |
| Service/ |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
| Years of service | 1915–1916 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, CEF |
| Battles/wars | First World War † |
| Awards |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} Victoria Cross
|
Lionel (Leo) Beaumaurice Clarke VC (1 December 1892 – 19 October 1916) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Clarke was born in Waterdown, Ontario. He spent his early years in England, home of his parents, but later returned and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba in about 1903. When World War I started, he was working as a surveyor for the Canadian Northern Railway in the Canadian north. He returned to Winnipeg to enlist in the 27th Battalion, and after arriving in England in June 1915, transferred to the 2nd (Eastern Ontario Regiment) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force to be with his brother, Charles.
The main assault of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette was scheduled for September 15, 1916. Its objective was to occupy a chain of trenches between Martinpuich and Courcelette. On 1 September 1916, Clarke's battalion was charged with capturing a 50-yard-long salient between the Canadian position at Mouquet Farm and Courcelette to the north.
On 9 September 1916, near Pozières, France, the first three companies of Clarke's battalion went over the top, leaving the fourth in reserve. Clarke, an Acting Corporal at the time, was assigned to take a section to clear the enemy on the left flank to allow his company sergeant to build a fortified dugout that would secure the Canadian position once the salient was overrun. When his section reached the trench, it was so heavily defended that they had to battle their way through with hand grenades, bayonets and their rifles as clubs. Clarke was the only man left standing; the rest had either been killed or wounded.
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