PART THREE - Prosper Frederick Lark

The brain behind the New Moon mowers was probably Prosper Lark. However, it must be said,
I know very little about the other permanent director, Claude Jardine Parks. What is clear
is that changes in the company in 1921 and 1926 have led me to believe Claude Parkes either
exited the company, or played a less significant role from 1921.

So, here I would like to discuss what I know about Prosper Frederick Lark. 'Prosper' is an unusual
Christian name. Perhaps that has some connection with the unusual lawnmower name, New Moon?

In any case, He was one of the early members of the Motor Yacht Club of N.S.W. and there are
a number of newsprint entries for boat race results. He was a boat owner and I have no doubt
that he did considerable 'networking' within this sphere in securing marine work ... perhaps the
repair and servicing of marine engines. I have one record of an advertisement for the sale of
a 22 foot launch from August, 1915.

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It may well be that this motor boat was Lark's own. I say that because on 29 July of 1915,
married, and at the age of 28, Prosper joined the Australian Military Force. He would be discharged
4 years' later on 30 September, 1919. His occupation was listed as "Mechanical Engineer".

The National Archives hold fifty records on Lark. He would be promoted a number of times
and saw active service in France. A few records show that his wife, Isabel, followed him
to England and her address in 1917 was listed as 17 Digby Mansions, Hammersmith Bridge, London -
when her husband was a commissioned officer. I have no doubt that Prosper saw and experienced
the full horror of that terrible, Great War.

I would like to conclude this part with my list of Selling and Wanted newsprint advertisements
dating from 1914 to 1929. It would be a reasonable assumption to say that the business of the
Lark, Parkes Company was carried on during the war years by the other permanent director, Claude
Jardine.

It would only be on Lark's return from war that significant change would occur.
The New Moon mowers would be conceived and born in the early 1920s.

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TO BE CONTINUED ...