Hugh Vincent Clarke (27 November 1919 – 28 November 1996) was an Australian soldier, public servant and

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

, specialising in military history. Born in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...

, Queensland, on 27 November 1919, Clarke was a cadet surveyor with the

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

Main Roads Commission. He left the commission to enlist in the 2/10th Field Regiment,

8th Division 8th Division, 8th Infantry Division or 8th Armored Division may refer to: Infantry divisions * 8th Division (Australia) * 8th Canadian Infantry Division * 8th Air Division (People's Republic of China) * 8th Division (1st Formation) (People's Repu ...

in July 1940. He served as a bombardier in Malaya and in

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

before being taken prisoner by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore in February 1942. He was imprisoned in

Changi Prison Changi Prison Complex, often known simply as Changi Prison, is a prison in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore. History First prison Before Changi Prison was constructed, the only penal facility in Singapore was at Pearl's Hill, beside t ...

and also forced to work on the infamous

Thai-Burma Railway The Burma Railway, also known as the Siam–Burma Railway, Thai–Burma Railway and similar names, or as the Death Railway, is a railway between Ban Pong, Thailand and Thanbyuzayat, Burma (now called Myanmar). It was built from 1940 to 1943 ...

. After the war, Clarke joined the Commonwealth Public Service and became Director of Information and Public Relations for the

Department of External Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

. He retired because of ill health in 1976. He was married with five children.

Bibliography

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References

1919 births 1996 deaths 20th-century Australian novelists 20th-century Australian male writers Australian Army soldiers Australian male novelists Australian Army personnel of World War II 20th-century Australian non-fiction writers Australian prisoners of war Australian public servants Australian male short story writers People from Brisbane World War II prisoners of war held by Japan Burma Railway prisoners {{Australia-writer-stub