S73921
CHAMBERS, William Clift
| Service Number: | 8390 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 September 1915, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Kadina, South Australia, September 1893 |
| Home Town: | Kadina, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Memorials: | Kadina & District WW1 Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Driver, 8390, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement Driver, 8390, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked Driver, 8390, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 16 Jul 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, At PLOEGSTEERT on the 1st June, 1917, these N.C.Os, and men, under the orders of Major E.T. Dean, whilst the 18th Battery was being heavily shelled, displayed the greatest bravery and devotion to duty in extinguishing on three separate occasions fires which had broken out from the hostile shelling in three gun pits of the battery and in several ammunition dumps. Whilst the gun pits were on fire, and the ammunition in them, and several dumps surrounding the battery were exploding, they brought buckets of water to the Battery Commander who was standing on top of the pit being dealt with, and worked in the pits with him putting out the fire. They subsequently put out the burning dumps, on more than one occasion boxes exploding while they were handling the dump. On the pits again catching fire under the heavy shelling they returned in the face of it and successfully renewed their efforts. Their disregard for personal safety, fine devotion and determination undoubtedly saved the guns and a large quantity of ammunition, 1,500 rounds only being destroyed out of some 5,000 stored at these pits. | |
| 19 Nov 1917: | Honoured Military Medal and bar, Third Ypres, On the 14th of September, 1917, at ZILLEBEKE, the 18th Battery position was heavily shelled from 3 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. with 6.9" and 8". At 3.35 p.m. an ammunition dump alongside No.1 gun was hit and it and the gun pit caught fire. These men on lieut. Dodd calling for a party rushed out of the shelter trench in the face of the heavy fire and with water from adjacent shell holes succeeded in putting it out. Later the pit was again hit and it and the ammunition and an adjacent pit caught fire. These men again went out with Lieut. Dodd in the face of the shelling and succeeded in saving the guns and ammunition. They displayed great gallantry and determination in the face of very considerable danger. | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 8390 | |
| 19 May 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 8390, 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Modbury High School
William Clift was a young man from Kadina, Copper Coast who was born in 1893. His mother and father were Ellen Louisa Chambers and Henry Chambers and in 1894 he was baptised. Before embarking, he was in the Kadina Rifle Club for 2 years and he was a miner.
He embarked on 22/11/1915 on the HMAT (His Majesty’s Australian Transport) with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade as a driver. In December of 1915, he joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and later in March of 1916, he joined the British Expeditionary Force. William was honoured with the Military Medal on 19/6/1917 and was honoured the Bar on 6/10/1917. Tragically, on 27/9/1917, he witnessed the death of fellow soldier Alfred Henson when he was killed in action. He was promoted to Bombardier in October of 1917. In the same month, he went on leave and failed to return in time and was Absent Without Leave which cost him 3 days pay as a punishment. In December of 1917, he was promoted to Tempy Corporal and in January of 1918, he promoted to Corporal. On the 1st of August, William was hospitalized and admitted. On the 8th of August, he was diagnosed with Disorderly Action of the Heart and embarked to England. On the 19th of May 1919, he was discharged.
After he returned home, William married Lily Irene Forsbrook in 1919 and passed away in 1973.
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