RPAYC ACTIVITIES
SIR RUPERT TURNER CLARKE
Sir Rupert occupies a very prominent place in the history of the RPAYC not so much for his service in W. W. I. but more so for his enthusiasm for and support of the sport of yachting and the RPAYC.
Sir Rupert served in the British Salonika Army which was a field army of the British Army formed in Salonika Greece to oppose Bulgarian advances in the region as part of an attempt by the Allied Powers to aid Serbia, in the autumn of 1915 against the combined attack of Germany, Austria-Hungary and Bulgaria. The expedition came too late to prevent the fall of Serbia however eventually a stable front was established. Upon the Allied offensive in September 1918 Bulgaria capitulated and Serbia was liberated.
Sir Rupert owned the yachts“ Kismet” and“ La Carabine” which are mentioned in the history of the Club. He was the donor of the La Carabine Cup and the Clarke Trophy to the Club.
Sir Rupert led a very privileged and interesting life including leading a successful Australian expedition of discovery up the Fly River, New Guinea, in 1910.
FREDERICK ROBERT FORSTER, DENTIST OF NEWTOWN
Joined the AIF in May 1916 at the age of 33. He was a former member of the Army Reserve and naturally became attached to the Army Dental Corp, arriving in Plymouth England in October 1916 with the rank of Lieutenant. Mr Forster was posted to France in June 1917 as part of the 15th Field Ambulance and was promoted to Captain in May 1917. He was discharged in 1919 and received the 1914 / 15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
CHARLES STEWART GARLAND, MINING OVERSEER OF MOSMAN NSW
Joined the AIF in May 2015 aged 31 and was posted to 3rd Reinforcements part of the 301h Battalion. He was killed in action on 19th July 1916 and was buried in the Rue Petillon Military Cemetery near Armentiere, France. Records do not indicate how he died. He was posthumously awarded the Victory Medal, the Memorial Plaque and Scroll, 1914 / 15 Star and British War Medal.
JOHN VERNON COBCROFT
Served with the British Forces in W. W. 1. Regrettably, there are no records easily accessible. Mr Cobcroft also served in W. W. 11.
FRANK OSWALD DAY
Joined the AIF on 10th January 1916 at the age of 39. Frank had formerly served in the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps prior to residing in Australia. Following basic training Frank was posted to 9th Machine Gun Company in the 9th Brigade and proceeded to France in November 1916. He was hospitalised in December 1916 and following a succession of hospital stays was repatriated home in October 1917 and permanently discharged as unfit for service.
HUBERT TOLFREE HARDING, FINE ART PUBLISHER OF MANLY
Joined the AIF in May 1916 at the age of 43. He arrived in France in April 1917 and was gassed in May 1918 and invalided to England where as part of his rehabilitation he took a special course on the Lewis Machine Gun but did not see further action.
He received the 1914 / 15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
LUBBEUS HORDERN
Served with the Royal Field Artillery in the British Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. It is believed that he was a member of the Hordern retailing family.
Regrettably, his service records are not accessible.
LAIDLEY ARTHUR FOGG, COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER
Joined the AIF on 24th August 1915 at the age of 26. He was posted to the 115th Howitzer Battery and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 1st August 1916. He served in France in mid1917 and was further promoted to Lieutenant in September 1917.
Mr Fogg was discharged in September 1919. He received the 1914 / 15 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
SYDNEY HAROLD LEIGH, COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER OF NEUTRAL BAY
Joined the AIF in October 2015 and served in the Army Medical Corps as a motor driver. He embarked for France on 5th November 1917 and served in the Rouen area in August 2016 and later in Flanders in November 1917. He was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for his service in France and promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in
October 2018. He also received the 1914 / 15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
84 YACHTSMAN