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Clarence Morris (Clarrie) Boyd (1903–1970)

by Chris Cunneen

This article was published:

This entry is from People Australia

Clarence Morris Brockwell (Clarrie) Boyd (1903-1970) school teacher and Communist organiser 

Birth: 7 June 1903 in South Melbourne, Victoria, son of George Gillon Boyd (1872-1921), salesman (tea business) and Ruby Johanna, née Knight. Marriages (1) 25 May 1932 at the District Registrar’s Office, Paddington, Sydney, New South Wales, to Olive Hazel Jean Dean (1907-1960) a barmaid from South Australia. Marriage was dissolved on 5 May 1947. (2) defacto relationship from about 1940 with ‘Barbara Boles’ (1915-1993). (3) 31 May 1947 at the District Registrar’s Office in North Sydney to Mary (or Monica) Jean Anderson (b. 1912), a cosmetician born in Victoria. He is not known to have had children from any of his relationships. Death: 29 March 1970 at Ashfield, Sydney. 

  • School teacher Kaniva, Victoria, in 1927 electoral roll. Appointed temporary teacher at Newport public School, Sydney on 5 October 1927.
  • Later connected with civil aviation. He describes himself as an aero mechanic in 1930 when living at Narabeen. At his marriage in 1932 was a salesman, living at Potts Point, Sydney.
  • Member of the Communist Party of Australia in the 1930s, and leader of the Eastern Suburbs (NSW) section of the party in 1937.
  • Enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in Perth. In August 1943 LAC Clarrie Boyd contested the seat Perth for the Australian House of Representatives on behalf of the CPA, and in November that year Maylands in the WA Legislative Assembly.
  • Discharged from the RAAF, he returned to Sydney, and was living at Kirribilli, North Sydney, when he was appointed justice of the peace.
  • He was a company director at the time of his second marriage. In electoral rolls he is given various occupations including “organiser” in 1943 and “education officer” in 1949. Later in life worked as a clerk and lived at Drummoyne. However, on his death certificate he is described as a school teacher.

Sources
A9301, Boyd Clarence Morris Brookwell (National Archives of Australia).

Additional Resources

Citation details

Chris Cunneen, 'Boyd, Clarence Morris (Clarrie) (1903–1970)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/boyd-clarence-morris-clarrie-33073/text41238, accessed 8 May 2024.

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