The collective noun for cats, is a cluster, and we definitely have a cluster around Private Clive Catt.
Born in the north-western Sydney suburb of Epping in February of 1893, Clive is one of three Catts that appear on the honour roll in nearby Carlingford on the hill overlooking Granville to the south. Clive married another Catt, Rhoda, after returning from the war. Bizarrely, there appears to be no familial connections between any of the Catts at this point.
Clive’s name appeared in the 1912 NSW School’s side that toured Queensland, the only Granville association player to make the squad. The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate mentioned him as one of the 49 players in the Granville Association’s Annual Report for the 1915 season to have signed up to fight. His name appears alongside such luminaries as Judy Masters and Bill Dane, both future Socceroos.
But signing up to fight was not how Clive made his mark. Upon enlisting in March of 1915 Catt was assigned to the 5th Field Ambulance whose task it was to provide casualty evacuation and surgery to the 5th Brigade of the AIF. In the course of carrying out his duties, Catt was nominated for, and received the prestigious Military Medal.
On the 27th February 1917 at about 12-30 p.m. word was received at LE SARS A.D.S. that two men were lying wounded in an exposed position on the BAPAUME ROAD. Sergeant I. LING, Lance Corporal A. BAILEY, Private C. CATT and Private A. COE at once proceeded to locate these men. This was accomplished after a most dangerous and difficult search at about 800 yards from LE SARS A.D.S., two men of the 22nd Australian Infantry Battalion, attached to the V 2 A.T.M. Battery being found. No 361 bomber DODD H. was lying on the side of the road with a shell wound in the left thigh, and No. 316 Private BARTLEY R. was lying in a cellar, into which he had apparently fallen with a fractured skull and unconsciousness. First Aid was rendered, and through heavy shell fire, (both Shrapnel and High Explosive) the patients were conveyed to the R.A.P., the distance of carrying being 800 yards. Both on the forward and return journey several narrow escapes were experienced by the party. Major CHAPMAN the Officer i/c of the forward A.D.S’s, further reports that this squad behaved in an exceptionally cool and courageous manner during the recent operations. I therefore wish to recommend these men for immediate reward, for untiring and conspicuous devotion to duty, and setting a fine example to those around them.
As a reward for his efforts Clive was transferred to the 5th Machine Gun Battalion where he served out his time, returning home four years after enlisting and marrying the same year.
Clive and Rhoda remained married until Clive’s death in 1968. Rhoda outlived Clive by only a year, the couple remained childless.