Waterdown in Hamilton, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Lionel Beaumaurice (Leo) Clarke V.C.

1892-1916

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 25, 2024

1. Lionel Beaumaurice (Leo) Clarke V.C. Marker

Inscription. Born near Waterdown, Ontario, Leo Clarke moved to Winnipeg in 1903. He enlisted with the 27th Battalion, C. E. F. in February 1915 and transferred to the 2nd Canadian Battalion later that year. On September 9, 1916, on the Somme battlefront, though wounded, Corporal Clarke single-handedly defended a recently-won trench. Using a revolver and two captured rifles he repulsed an attack by two enemy officers and about twenty others, thus helping to secure the Canadian position. For his courageous action he received the British Empire's highest award for valour, the Victoria Cross. Before his award was announced, however, Corporal Clarke was killed in battle on October 19, 1916, and is buried near Le Havre, France. Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario

Erected by Archaeological and Historic Sites Board, Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust, and the Victoria Cross and George Cross Recipients

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series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 9, 1916.

Location. 43° 20.002′ N, 79° 53.998′ W. Marker is in Hamilton, Ontario. It is in Waterdown. It is at the intersection of Hamilton Street North and White Oak Drive on Hamilton Street North. The marker is by the entrance to the Royal Canadian Legion hall, Branch 551. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 79 Hamilton St N, Hamilton ON L0R 2H6, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe,

in the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Area,

and specifically in the Toronto Metropolitan Area.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lt. Leslie H. Miller and the Vimy Oaks (within shouting distance of this marker); Waterdown’s Public Backyard (approx. 0.4 kilometers

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 25, 2024

2. Lionel Beaumaurice (Leo) Clarke V.C. Marker

away); Waterdown Memorial Hall (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Smokey Hollow (approx. 1.1 kilometers away); Aldershot Corners (approx. 4.8 kilometers away); The Church of St. Matthew on-the-Plains (approx. 4.9 kilometers away); Rock Chapel (approx. 5 kilometers away); Sentinel of the Around the Bay Race (approx. 5.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hamilton.

Also see . . . The Canadian Encyclopedia - Leo Clarke VC.

When the First World War broke out in 1914, Clarke was working as a railroad surveyor in northern Saskatchewan. His father Harry, coming from a family of British soldiers, sent his son a message that Britain and the Empire were at war. By the time he received the message, Clarke was working on a ranch in Saskatchewan. He returned home and enlisted in Winnipeg's 27th Battalion, and shipped out to England in mid-May 1915. Clarke arrived in France with the Second Division, Canadian Expeditionary Force, in September 1915 and was posted to the Ypres salient in Belgium in October.

(Submitted on March 25, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Lionel Beaumaurice (Leo) Clarke V.C. image. Click for full size.

3. Lionel Beaumaurice (Leo) Clarke V.C.

Source: the Memory Project (public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 216 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.