Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

John Raymond Clifford was born at Port McDonnell, South Australia on 14th March, 1897 to parents John Jack Locke Clifford & Mabel Louisa Clifford (nee Wilke). 

John Clifford, father of John Raymond Clifford, died on 3rd August, 1900 at Belair, South Australia.

On 8th October, 1915 Raymond John Clifford enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) aged 18 years & 8 months, single & a Labourer from Port Macdonald*, South Australia (*place name as listed on Embarkation Roll).

As Raymond John Clifford was under the age of 21 – his parents were required to sign their consent for their son to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force for active service abroad. Mabel Louisa Williams wrote the following on 8th October, 1915: “I herby give my consent to my son Raymond John Clifford to serve in any part of his Majesty’s service.”

Private Raymond John Clifford, Service number 773, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on HMAT Orsova (A67) on 12th November, 1915 with the 1st Australian Remount Unit – 3rd Squadron & disembarked at Suez on 9th December, 1915.

He was transferred to 4th Divisional Artillery - 24th Howitzer Brigade at Tel-el-Kebir on 1st April, 1916. Private Clifford was taken on strength of 24th Howitzer Brigade & posted to 111th Battery on the same day.

On 25th April, 1916 Private  Clifford was transferred & admitted to No. 13 Field Ambulance at Serapeum with Mumps. He was admitted to No. 1 Stationary Hospital at Ismalia on 6th May, 1916 with “Parot & Orchitis” then admitted to No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital at Abbassia on 8th May, 1916 with Mumps. Private Clifford was discharged to Overseas Base at Tel-el-Kebir on 15th May, 1916.

Mrs M. Williams, Port McDonnell, South Australia, (remarried mother of Private Clifford) was advised by Base Records on 17th May, 1916 that No. 1116 Private R. J. Clifford had been admitted to 4th Auxiliary Hospital, Cairo on 8th May, 1916 suffering from Mumps – mild.

Private Clifford was transferred to Artillery Training Depot at Tel-el-Kebir on 25th May, 1916. He embarked from Alexandria on 28th May, 1916 on HMT Corsican & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 12th June, 1916.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the counties of Wiltshire & Dorset. Later Training & Convalescing Units were combined under the one Command Depot.

He was admitted to Isolation at Tidworth Hospital, Wiltshire on 21st July, 1916 from A.A.T.D. (Australian Artillery Training Depot) at Bulford, Wiltshire. He was discharged on 28th July, 1916.

On 9th December, 1916 Private Clifford was written up for an Offence while posted at A.A.T.D. (Australian Artillery Training Depot), Bulford, Wiltshire – A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) from 09.00 on 3rd December, 1916 until 06.00 & 08.45 Parade on 4th December, 1916. He was awarded 120 hours Detention by Captain Combe.

Private Clifford was written up for an Offence on 23rd December, 1916 while posted at A.A.T.D. (Australian Artillery Training Depot), Bulford, Wiltshire – A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) from 09.00 on 10th December, 1916 till 09.30 on 18th December, 1916. He was awarded 168 hours Detention (4 days in custody awaiting trial) & forfeited a total of 20 days’ pay.

He was written up for an Offence on 15th January, 1917 while posted at R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery), Bulford Details – 1. A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) from 09.00 on 14th January, 1917 to 09.00 on 15th January, 1917.  2. Absent from 09.00 Parade on 15th January, 1917. He was awarded 2 days’ Field Punishment No. 2 & a total forfeiture of 3 days’ pay.

On 18th January, 1917 Private Clifford was marched out from R.B.A.A. at Bulford, Wiltshire & marched in to R.B.A.A. at Larkhill, Wiltshire on 21st January, 1917.

Private Raymond John Clifford was written up for an Offence on 22nd January, 1917 while posted at Larkhill – “Hesitating to obey an order in that he did not return to Parade when ordered.” He was awarded 21 days’ Detention.

He was written up for an Offence on 20th February, 1917 while posted at R.B.A.A. at Larkhill, Wiltshire – A.W.L. at place of Parade on 15th February, 1917. He was awarded 21 days’ Detention.

On 16th May, 1917 Private Clifford was marched out from R.B.A.A. at Larkhill, Wiltshire & marched in to R.B.A.A. Det. at Boyton on 18th May, 1917.

Private (Casualty Form – Active Service recorded rank as Gunner) Clifford proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 23rd July, 1917. He was marched in to A.G.B.D. (Australian General Base Depot) at Rouelles, France on 24th July, 1917 from England. Private Clifford was marched out from A.G.B.D. on 27th July, 1917 to 3rd Div. T.M.B.   He was attached for duty with 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery on 29th July, 1917 from Artillery Reinforcements.

He was taken on strength of 11th L.T.M.B. (Light Trench Mortar Battery) on 17th August, 1917 from R.B.A.A.

On 8th September, 1917 Private Clifford was written up for a Crime while posted with 11th L.T.M.B. – Absent without Leave from 9 pm on 8th September, 1917 to 9.30 pm on 9th September, 1917. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No, 2 & forfeited a total on 9 days’ pay.

A Field General Court Martial was held on 21st November, 1917 regarding a Crime by Private Raymond John Clifford – Charge : “When on Active Service deserting his Majesty’s Service in that he on Oct, 10th 1917 when ordered to carry ammunition in the front system of trenches at Ypres did not do so, but left the line & fell to rear where he was ordered to rejoin his Battery at 11 am 11th Oct 1917.”

Finding – Guilty.  Sentence: 12 months I.H.L. (Imprisonment Hard Labour) from 21st November, 1917 having awaited trial for 41 days. His sentence was suspended on 7th December, 1917.

He reported sick on 30th December, 1917 from Field Punishment Compound & was admitted to 53rd Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Private Clifford was transferred to 7th Ambulance Train on 11th January, 1918 & admitted to 7th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne, France on the same day – P.U.O. (Pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin).

A Medical Board was held on 8th April, 1918 at No. 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, France enquiring & reporting on the present state of health of No. 773 Private J. R. Clifford, 11th Australian L.T.M.B.  A recommendation was that Private Clifford be transferred to England “as soon as his general condition permits…...The Board consider it unlikely that this man will be fit for further service in this country.”  The recommendation was approved by A.G.G. H.Q. on 21st April, 1918. Private Clifford was invalided to UK on Hospital Ship Jan Breydel from 7th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne on 26th April, 1918 suffering from Lymphadenoma.

On 27th April, 1918 Private Clifford was admitted to Southwark Military Hospital, East Dulwich, London, England with Lymphadenoma. His condition was reported to be dangerously ill.

Private Raymond John Clifford died at 7.45 am on 1st May, 1918 (Note: Hospital Admissions form recorded he died at 8 am) at Southwark Military Hospital, East Dulwich, London, England from Lymphadenoma, Pleuristic Effusion & Cardiac Failure. A Telegram was sent from Southwark Military Hospital to Private Clifford’s friend - Mrs Hamilton, 22 Ena Avenue, Sneiton Dale, Nottingham informing her of the death.

He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England in Australian Military Burial Ground.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c.html