Lieutenant Colonel J.D. Clarke
111th (South Waterloo) Battalion

A very good officer who gave me an excellent impression, well qualified, has a good command, is apparently tactful and altogether fitted to command.

(111th Inspection report, 7 Aug 1916)

“After having raised the 111th South Waterloo Battalion, taking it overseas and spending four weeks on the firing line in France, Lieut.-Col. J.D. Clarke slipped quietly into town today.”

(Toronto World, 9 Feb 1917)

Born on 1 March 1884 in Elora, Ontario, James Drury Clarke was a newspaper publisher and the son of a prominent Liberal politician. His father, Charles Clarke (1826—–1909) had been a member of the Ontario legislature and speaker. He was appointed to organize the 111th Battalion from the Galt and Waterloo region. Although he found the German-speaking Mennonites in the area loyal, their equally strong pacifism made “recruiting efforts in that section are absolutely wasted.” Continue reading →