S11275
CLIFFORD, William Thomas
| Service Number: | 3215 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Norwood Primary School |
| Occupation: | Hairdresser |
| Died: | Unknown, South Australia, 24 January 1966 |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Norwood Primary School Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 3215, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Malakuta embarkation_ship_number: A57 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 3215, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Malakuta, Adelaide | |
| Date unknown: | Wounded 3215, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
William Thomas Clifford was born in Adelaide roughly around 1890, his mother being Mary Clifford. They both lived in the same house on Alfred Street in Norwood. He went to Norwood Primary School for his education. William was the average height for a man at the times, with being 5’7. He weighed 120 pounds, and he was described to have “yellowish eyes” and black hair. He worked as a hairdresser before enlistment. He was not married or had any sort of engagement stated in his records, and his religion was Church of England.
William enlisted in Broken Hill, NSW on the 23rd of March 1916. He was 26 years and 3 months old when he enlisted. His next of Kin was his mother, Mary Clifford. His one and only rank was Private, and he was placed in the unit 32nd Battalion, 7th Reinforcement. He embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A57 Malakuta on 27th June 1916. He arrived on the Western Front in France 11/11/1916.
Throughout his battles, he was admitted to the Field Ambulance multiple times, but on the 5th of March 1917, he was severely injured in battle, with gunshots to his left leg and head. He was then admitted to a Field Ambulance in France, but then later was transferred to the London General Hospital in England on April the 17th 1917. His injuries were so severe, so he set out to return to Australia on board on HT 'Themostocles’. He went on board on the 5th of November 1917, and arrived back to Adelaide on the 28th of December 1917.
On the 14th of January 1918, he was officially discharged from the army, the reasoning stating, “medically unfit.” He was rewarded with two medals: British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His total military service was 1 year and 299 days. 1 year and 185 days of that total service was overseas.
No information about his life after his military service can be found. He passed away on the 24th of January, 1966. He is now buried at Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia, Australia.