Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

"A" Company, The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

August 31st, 1944

Recommendation:
During the initial assault on 6 June 1944, on the beaches of Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, Private Clark was a member of a section of "A" Company which landed at 'H plus 5 minutes'. Both the section leaders and the Second-in-Command became casualties and Private Clark, on his own initiative, took over command of the section.
In the afternoon, in the vicinity of Tailleville, his was the forward section of the leading platoon which came under heavy mortar fire. There was no cover for his men near at hand and recognizing this fact, he unhesitatingly lead his men across 800 yards of open country under fire to attack the enemy positions in the wood and neutralize the fire. By this action he made it possible for the remainder of "A" Company and the whole of "D" Company to cross the same ground to close with the enemy and carry on with the attack.
During the whole of the operations on D-Day, Private Clark showed himself ready to assume unexpected responsibilities, quick at appreciating difficult situations and decisive in his action to overcome them. His display of personal courage enabled him to maintain firm control of his men and was at all times an inspiration to all ranks.
There is no doubt that his qualities of leadership and resolution made possible this local success of "A" and "D" Companies and thereby contributed greatly to the success of the battalion.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 31 August, 1944.