Summary

Business card for ostrich feather retail supplier L. Finburg in Cape Town, South Africa, with L. E. Clarke 38th Battery handwritten on back.

The card was apparently acquired by World War I soldier Langley Edward Clarke, who sailed to the Middle East on the Ceramic, which departed Melbourne on 22 December 1914. Cape Town was one of the ports troop ships often visited.

Langley Edward Clarke (regimental number 1015) was a 22-year-old labourer from Pontville, Tasmania, who enlisted on 21 September 1914. He was assigned to the 15th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade, G Company. He was sent to Broadmeadows for training, then was shipped to the Middle East. He became a gunner and was wounded at Gallipoli. In March 1916, after his recovery, he was transferred to the 4th Australian Division Artillery and sent to fight in France, where he was promoted to bombadier. In January 1917 he was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade and subsequently was posted to the 38th Battalion. On 18 July 1917 he was severely gassed, and after treatment in England was shipped back to Australia unfit. He was discharged from the Army on 29 January 1918.

Physical Description

A business card for an Ostrich Feather retail outlet in Cape Town with "L.E.Clarke 38th Battery" handwritten in pencil on back. Card is printed on a white cardboard, with black text printed on one side. Card has crease through centre.

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