Clarence Austin Gordon was born in Ballarat and was a Sailor by trade when he enlisted in the Mining Corps Reinforcement 2 on 7 January 1916 at the age of 29. His unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A16 Star Of Victoria on 31 March 1916. His military career however was short lived; he was discharged on October 5th as æmedically unfit'. He enlisted for a second time on February 24th 1915, but just nine days later on March 5th, he was again discharged as æmedically unfit'. January 7th 1916 saw him again sign on with the AIF, now as a 29 year old sailor. He trained with the 14th Depot Battalion in Ballarat before disembarking from Sydney on March 31st aboard the Star of Victoria. In May 1916 he reached France but almost immediately was hospitalised due to illness. In November, once discharged from hospital, he joined the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company. In March 1917 he was sent back to hospital in England suffering from bronchitis and a leg problem, unable to rejoin his unit until late August. In August 1918 he was transferred to the 24th Battalion but the following month he was again sent back to England, this time on account of a sprained ankle. He did not return to the battle line, and was invalided to Australia for discharge as æmedically unfit – old fracture of right ankle'. He returned on the Morvada, disembarking at Melbourne on February 20th 1919.
Tree No 3396