Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Harry Clifford Thrush was born on the 2nd of March 1893, in Adelaide, South Australia, the son of Harry Thrush (Snr.) and Sarah Frearson. He was known as Clifford or Cliff Thrush and his two siblings, Annie Vera Thrush (born 1895) and Albert Reginald (born 1900) were also known by their second names. Harry Clifford Thrush was baptised at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Adelaide, on the 2nd of April 1893. Cliff’s father, Harry Thrush Snr., was a Sadler at 73 Pirie Street, Adelaide. He was a member of the St John’s Choir for more than 30 years and he loved football, following Norwood all his life.

Schooling

Cliff commenced his schooling at the Pulteney Street School (later Pulteney Grammar School) and later attended St Peter’s College, Adelaide. Cliff also was a member of the St John’s Choir from at least 1904 and possessed a clear treble voice.

In April 1905, aged 12 years, Cliff competed in the Adelaide Exhibition, Musical Competition and came equal second in the Boy’s Section. He passed the Primary Division, Music Theory examination in June 1905, under teacher, Miss Bosch. As a result of his success at the Adelaide Exhibition Musical Competition, Cliff was selected to join Mr. Edward Branscombe’s Westminster Glee and Concert Company. The newspaper article below states that Cliff was to go with the No. 2 company to Victoria, but another article states that Cliff was only engaged for 4-5 weeks and was to go to Western Australia.

Cliff passed the Junior Division Music Theory examinations in November 1906; at this stage he was at St Peter’s College but was still being taught by Miss Bosch.

In 1908, Cliff competed in heats of the Junior Championship at the St Peter’s College Annual Swimming Carnival. in August 1909, he was second in the College Cup (220 Yards Flat Handicap) and third in the 120 Yards Hurdles Handicap at the St Peter’s College Athletics contest.

Cliff and his sister Miss Vera Thrush sang a duet at the President’s Reception at the Esperanto Congress in Adelaide in October 1911.

Showing his sporting versatility, in July 1911, Cliff was a member of the St Peter’s College Inter-Collegiate Football team who played against Prince Alfred College and in August that year Cliff was third in the 440 yards handicap at the St Peter’s College Sports. Cliff also played cricket for St Peter’s in the SACA B Grade competition in the 1911/12 season.

Adelaide University
Cliff commenced studying for his Bachelor of Arts at Adelaide University in 1912 and gained his BA Degree in December 1915.

University Sport

Athletics
Cliff competed in 75 yards flat race at the University Athletic Club Sports in June 1912. In 1913 he was second in the 220 yards flat race.

Cricket
Cliff (a batsman) played cricket for Adelaide University from 1912/13 to 1915/16. He played most of his games in B Grade with an occasional match the A Grade. He made 43 runs in the first innings of a B Grade match in February 1914 against West Torrens, top scoring for University in an innings of 144. In the 1913/14 and 1914/15 season he managed four A Grade games with a top score of 21 in a match against Sturt in January 1916.

In the unofficial SACA 1915/1916 season, when many players had left for service in WW1, he played a few more senior matches including a game against North Adelaide who were dismissed for only 24 runs.

Football
Cliff played football for Adelaide University A Grade in 1913-1915 and he was a member of the 1914 Intervarsity Football team who played Melbourne University in August that year.

Theological College

While still at Adelaide University, Cliff commenced studying at St Barnabas’ Theological College in 1913.

Pre-War Career

In January 1916, Cliff was appointed as curate to the Ven. Archdeacon Samwell at Mt Gambier in the south east of South Australia.

In September 1916 Cliff became engaged to Constance, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. B. Middleton, of Montrose, Knightsbridge. Cliff was ordained into the priesthood by the Bishop of Adelaide, Right Rev. Dr. Thomas, on the 4th March 1917.

World War I

On the 22nd of June 1918, Cliff enlisted, aged 24 years and four months. He was described as 5’7½”, with a medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Cliff had been a cadet for two years while at St Peter’s College.

On enlistment, Cliff’s father was listed as his next-of-kin, however one of the “arrangements” that Cliff made between enlisting and entering camp, was to marry Constance Marjorie Middleton on the 7th of August 1918 at St Matthew’s Church of England Church, Marryatville, SA. Thus his next-of-kin was altered to show Constance Thrush of Gurney Road, Rose Park, Adelaide in that role.

From 11th of September, when he arrived in camp, to 8th of October 1918, Cliff was a private in B Coy. He then transferred to “Butler’s Rifles”. Cliff was briefly an acting Corporal before being discharged on the 24th of December 1818, due to the cessation of hostilities. Cliff did not serve overseas.

Post-War Career and Family Life

In December 1918, the Bishop of Adelaide appointed the Rev. Clifford Thrush, B.A., Th.L., to the charge of the St Mary’s Penola, Kalangadoo and Coonawarra Churches. In 1920, Cliff was central umpire at several local football matches.

On the 26th of August 1920, Cliff and Constance’s daughter, Ann Christobel Thrush, was born at the Rectory at Penola.

Cliff accepted role at St Stephen’s, Willunga, in July 1921. His area of responsibility included Aldinga, Noarlunga and McLaren Vale.

Cliff’s sister Vera married Harold Gard. The couple both sang in the grand opera in Adelaide in 1924 before departing for Europe to further their musical careers. Vera continued to sing under the name of Miss Vera Thrush. Their son Alfred Harold Brentnall "Alf" Gard served as a fighter pilot in WW2 and became a legendary all-round sporting commentator for the ABC (primarily horse racing). Alf also had a good singing voice.

In October 1925, the Bishop of Adelaide appointed Cliff to St Augustine’s, Renmark and the following summary of Cliff’s life was published in ‘The Register’ in January 1926.

In July 1926, Cliff’s father (Harry Thrush) was one of the choristers who took part in the St Peter’s Cathedral Jubilee Services. Harry, at the age of 11, had sung the first solo at the opening of the Cathedral in 1876. Harry was described as the father of “the well-known soprano, Miss Vera Thrush, and the Rev. H.C. Thrush (of Renmark), and the Rev. A.R. Thrush (of St Barnabas College).”

While at Renmark in 1927, Cliff acted as a supervisor for University Public Examinations and he gave the address on ANZAC Day in 1928. In May 1928 the Thrush family had a holiday in Adelaide.

In June 1928 Cliff was appointed the Rector at St Cuthbert’s Church, Prospect. He was farewelled from Renmark by about 80 soldiers in the Renmark RSA (sic) club rooms and at a social at the institute at Renmark. He took up his role at St Cuthbert’s in late August 1928.

By October 1928, Cliff was president of the St Cuthbert’s (Church of England) Football team.

In October 1928, Cliff’s wife Constance was reported to be seriously ill in Adelaide and she remained in poor health for the rest of her life. On the 27th June 1929, Cliff’s car was stolen; the car was recovered in New South Wales in August 1929.

Cliff was principal preacher at the St Peter’s and Prince Alfred Collegiate Old Boys Week in July 1929.

In March 1930, Cliff became the first President of the newly formed SA Badminton Association.

Cliff was also the Chairman of the Babies’ Home Walkerville, a role he held for many years.

For the Convention of Anglican Clergymen held in Adelaide in May 1931, Cliff was the secretary to the committee and a member of the sports committee with A.E. Kain and C.H. Williams.

The Thrush family went to Renmark for their holidays in June 1933 and September 1936.

In November 1933, Cliff was the preacher at the Pulteney Old Scholars annual service and in September 1934, he presented the prizes at the Pulteney School Sports. In May 1938, Cliff was the preacher at the service to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Pulteney Street School.

A portrait of Cliff and Constance’s daughter Christobel appeared in the ‘News’ in September 1938, she was then aged 18 years.

World War II

In January 1940, Cliff was appointed a Chaplain in the Army Chaplains’ Department for the 4th Military District (SA and Broken Hill).

Tragically for Cliff and Christobel, Constance passed away on the 25th of May 1940 aged just 47 years. Constance was buried at the North Road Cemetery (Nailsworth). The Thrush family were living at 2 Ballville Street, Prospect at the time of Constance’s death.

Cliff was appointed Chaplain (Fourth Class) to the Royal Australian Air Force from the 11th of December 1940. There was further sadness for the Thrush family when Cliff’s father, Harry, passed away on the 9th of June 1941, at his residence at 107 Sydenham Road, Norwood, aged 76.

Cliff’s WWII records were not open to the public (at time of writing the document), but he was absent from St Cuthbert’s on military duty from August 1941. He officiated at a funeral at the West Terrace Cemetery in November 1941.

(Harry's WWII records are now open and are at
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5241108

Harry enlisted on 11th December 1940 and was demobilized on the 20th November 1945. He served in the Darwin Area from 15 January 1942 to 12 August 1942 and in the United Kingdom from 24 August 1942 to 8 August 1945.)

Cliff was in London before 1943, as he was photographed singing with the RAAF Glee Club, on the 4th of January 1943. The RAAF Glee Club was formed by an RAAF Chaplain, Squadron Leader Gordon Wood on board a ship which brought Australian airmen to England in 1942. Members of the Club where photographed broadcasting in the weekly series "Britain Sings" in the BBC's Empire Services.

The Glee party performed at Australian House, London on Australia Day (26th January 1943) and “their songs were received with great enthusiasm by the audience”.

In February 1943, Cliff conducted the funeral service for Flight Sergeant R.H. Middleton, the first member of the RAAF to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

On the 31st of March 1944, Cliff was among the performers who sang for the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester at the Boomerang Club in London.

At 2pm on the 25th January 1945 at Regional Cemetery Cambridge, Harry officiated at the burial of Flight Sergeant Gordon Alex (Alec) Boyd and Flight Sergeant Jack Stanley Robinson both of the RAAF. He also wrote a letter of comfort to Alec Boyd's widow Madge. (a copy of the letter was discovered in the RAAF Accident report https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1064960 while the author was researching the service of her Great Uncle Alex Boyd).

Cliff married Adelaide doctor, Captain Alfreda Krichauff of the Royal Army Medical Corps in the UK prior to his return to Adelaide in September 1945.

In March 1945, a stone from the tomb of St Cuthbert within Durham Cathedral, was unveiled at St Cuthbert’s Church, Prospect. The stone had been given to the Prospect church at Cliff’s request.

Post WWII

After the War, Cliff returned to his pre-war role at St Cuthbert’s Church and as Chairman of the Walkerville Babies’ Home.

Cliff’s daughter, Christobel married Warrant Officer William Russell Swanson (RAAF), the twin son of Mr and Mrs J.W. Swanson, of Hyde Park at St Cuthbert’s Church, Prospect on the 3rd of November 1945. Her Uncle, the Rev. A.R. Thrush officiated.

In February 1947, Cliff had the honour of christening his first grandchild, Carolyn Ann Swanson, the daughter of Christobel and Russell Swanson.

In October 1947, Cliff was present when the Prospect branch of the Air Force Association was inaugurated and he conducted the service at the State War Memorial in Adelaide on Air Force Day (the anniversary of the Battle of Britain) in September 1948. In May 1950, Cliff conducted Evensong at the centenary of his former parish church at Willunga. By 1954, Cliff has been at St Cuthbert’s for 26 years.

It is possible that Cliff continued to serve at St Cuthbert’s until 1960 when he was aged 67.

Cliff and Alfreda travelled to Europe. They returned to Australian departing from Rotterdam and arriving at Freemantle, Western Australia on the 13th of August 1961, onboard the Tönsberg. Their address in South Australia was 39 Wattlebury Road, Lower Mitcham.

Cliff’s mother, Sarah, passed away in 1968.


Death
Harry Clifford Thrush passed away on the 13th of April 1975, aged 82. He was cremated at Centennial Park, Adelaide on the 14th of April 1975 and his memorial is at the North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, SA. His last abode was at Mitcham.

Alfreda Wilma (or Wilhemina) Thrush passed away on the 22nd of October 1987, aged 82. She was cremated at Centennial Park on the 26th October 1987. Her last abode was Unit 4, 7 Kirkdale Ave., Hazelwood Park, SA.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.