The Death of ‘Dutch’ Clark – grave tales

Cecil Bryce (Brice) ‘Dutch’ Clark was born on 19 August 1898 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to William James Clark and Mary Jane nee Girling who were both from Berkshire in England. He was the youngest of seven children.

Cecil Bryce ‘Dutch’ Clark and his daughter Catherine M Clark shortly before his death – Photo Ancestry.com

At the age of 18yrs, in April of 1916, he joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Forces. He arrived in Queensland Australia in 1925 and on the 9th of November 1927, he married Ophelia Emma ‘Effie’ Motley in Rockhampton Queensland. They had one child, a girl, Catherine Mary ‘Peggy’ Clark, born in 1929 in Sydney NSW.  In the Electoral Roll for Queensland for 1925 he is listed as a Jackeroo, and in 1928 as a Farmer and in NSW in 1930, as a Traveller. He came to Western Australia sometime between 1930 and 1934. It’s not clear why he came to WA, or which occupation he was following, but it looks like his wife and child were with him at the address at 155 Collins Street, Kalgoorlie.

Kalgoorlie Miner 10 August 1934, page 4

Bryce Cecil ‘Dutch’ Clark – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – photo Danelle Warnock

Cecil Bryce ‘Dutch’, died on 9 August 1934 in Kalgoorlie and is buried in the Anglican section of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.

Bryce Cecil ‘Dutch’ Clark – Kalgoorlie Cemetery – photo Danelle Warnock

Kalgoorlie Miner 9 August 1935, page 4

I can find no mention of the cause of death for such a young man of 35yrs. He was not admitted to the Kalgoorlie hospital prior to his death, nor were there any newspaper articles about an accident, which is the sort of thing that is usually reported on. He must have died from illness, but I can’t say for sure. His wife Ophelia remarried  William John Richards in Coolgardie in 1939. William was from Paddington near Kalgoorlie. The couple had no children and they returned to Yeppoon, Queensland where they both died. William in 1975 and Ophelia in 1990.

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Moya Sharp

Owner at Outback Family History

My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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