S4562
CLOUGH, Desmond Kingsley
| Service Number: | 1734 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Brighton, South Australia, Australia, 21 May 1894 |
| Home Town: | Brighton, Holdfast Bay, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | 23 July 1943, aged 49 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
North Brighton Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Brighton Arch of Remembrance, Brighton WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Apr 1915: | Involvement Private, 1734, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Lincoln embarkation_ship_number: A17 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Apr 1915: | Embarked Private, 1734, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Lincoln, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 1734, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Desmond Kingsley Clough was born in South Australia and lived there before the beginning of World War I. At the age of 20 years and 6 months, he enlisted on 23rd November 1914. At the time of enlistment, Desmond was described as 5 feet 5½ inches tall, although later measurements recorded him as 5 feet 8 inches, and he weighed approximately 140 lbs. He also had a vaccination mark on his left arm, which was noted in his records. His occupation was recorded as, labourer.
After training in Australia, Desmond travelled overseas to Egypt embarking 1st April 1915 from Adelaide. While in Egypt, soldiers underwent further training to improve their combat readiness, including rifle shooting, marching, and learning trench warfare techniques. This period helped soldiers adjust to military life before entering active combat.
In 1915, Desmond was deployed to fight in Gallipoli, where he served at Anzac Cove. The conditions were extremely harsh, with steep terrain, cramped trenches, and constant threats from enemy gunfire, artillery, and sniper attacks. Soldiers also faced shortages of food and clean water, as well as diseases such as dysentery due to poor sanitation. The heat, flies, and presence of unburied bodies made life even more difficult.
During this campaign, Desmond was wounded on the 16th of May 1915 with gun shot wound on his upper left arm and finger, while under intense fire by the Turkish troops in Anzac Cove. He was evacuated to hospital in Egypt and returned to duty in late June. He continued to serve in the Middle East until August 1916 when he embarked to England for leave and fell ill while there requiring further hospital treament. He then was transferred to base for lighter duties
Desmond served on the Western Front in France October 1917. He was again treated in hospital this time due to an issue with his eye but returned to duty after a week. He was appointed Lance Corporal 12th July 1918, and later to Corporal at the end of the month..
In August 1918 Desmond attend the School of Instruction for a month and then was granted leave in the UK, returning to duty in France on 8th November 1918.
Desmond returned to Australia on the ship Kashmir leaving 9th March 1919. After for 4 years and 15 days of service he was formally discharged from the AIF 25th June 1919.
After he returned to Australia, Desmond married Ellen Eliza 13th Jnaury 1923, they later divorced 12 March 1942. they had one child Brian Desmond (1924-1963)
Desmond passed away on the 23rd of July 1943 and was buried in Brighton.