Service led to lasting legacy
On 19th October 1914 - a few weeks shy of his 53rd birthday – Bolton Clarke namesake and then Lt Colonel William Kinsey Bolton set sail from Melbourne on the HMAT Benalla, bound for Gallipoli.
A hard-working builder and architect, Lt Colonel Bolton had served in both the Victorian and Australian Armies over several decades when he commanded the 8th Battalion, leading them into a battle that was to change the course of Australian history.
He fought in the gruelling battle of Krithia and stormed the shores at Cape Helles, briefly commanding the 2nd Infantry Brigade before ill health cut short his service he returned to Australia in late 1915 on the HMAT Ballarat.
There, having witnessed so many of his comrades struggling to reintegrate into daily life, he began to build the foundations of an organisation that would recognise and support those returning after serving in a conflict zone.
Bolton became a founding member and the first National President of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (later the RSL) in 1916, focusing his energy on caring for ex-servicemen and women and their families.
He steadily led the organisation in its early years, educating the community on the specific needs of returned veterans, from healthcare and rehabilitation to a safe place to call home.
By the time World War II came around, his work had laid the foundations for the establishment of our first War Veterans Homes.
The same commitment to following the need and finding new ways to deliver services remains at the heart of Bolton Clarke's work today, as the organisation approaches its 140th year of caring for Australians.
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At Bolton Clarke we have a range of care roles in the home and across our communities that offer flexibility, competitive rates and a caring team environment with strong clinical and allied health support.
