Gerald B Clarke

Gerald Bryan Clarke was born in Gwelo on 1 November 1909, the son of Francis Joseph Clarke and Margaret Shiel. He was the principal secretary to the Rhodesian Cabinet (under Prime Minister Ian Smith) throughout the existence of the Rhodesian Front Government (1964–1979). A close confidant of Prime Minister Smith, Clarke attended virtually every conference and Heads-of-Governments meetings that Smith attended throughout his tenure.

Clarke organised and ran the sub-committee that drew up the Unilateral Declaration of Independence, which Smith and his Cabinet signed on 11 November 1965.