Robert Charles Clark came from Calgary, AB where he attended Balmoral and Western Canada High School, the son of Charles and Sarah Clark. He enlisted in the Calgary Highlanders in September 1939 after having served in the Calgary Regiment (Tanks). Still too young to be posted overseas, he served at District HQ until 1940 when he was posted to the 10th Field Squadron in Camp Petawawa where, based on his previous service, he qualified as a driver-mechanic and clerk. He arrived in the United Kingdom in November of that year with his squadron. His time in England was interesting with attachments to the Fort Garry Horse and the Canadian Scottish Regiment.
In November 1943 the 10th Field Squadron arrived in Naples, and after a shakeout and equipping, started their advanced across the treacherous terrain of Italy building and repairing bridges and roads, clearing mines and bobby traps and training hard whenever they were out of action.
By early September 1944, the 10th Field Squadron was fully engaged in the Gothic Line battle advancing, conducting route reconnaissance and clearing obstacles. While preparing for the assault on Coriano Ridge on the morning of 11 September, John with other members of 1 Troop were having breakfast in shifts near a kitchen truck. A stray shell hit the kitchen tent causing 28 casualties – six killed outright, three seriously wounded who later died of wounds, and 11 seriously injured. Robert was among the seriously wounded and died later that day. He was 22 years old.