Walter John CLIFT

Walter John CLIFT Update Details

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CLIFT, Walter John

Service Number:	3787
Enlisted:	17 September 1915, Adelaide, South Australia
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	50th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Yarcowie, South Australia, 18 April 1879
Home Town:	Jamestown, Northern Areas, South Australia
Schooling:	Superior Public School
Occupation:	Pipe Fitter / Mechanic
Died:	Killed in Action, Mouquet Farm, France, 16 August 1916, aged 37 years
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Broken Hill Barrier District Roll of Honour, Broken Hill War Memorial, Stansbury Memorial Institute Roll of Honour, Terowie Institute Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France)

World War 1 Service

17 Sep 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia
7 Feb 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3787, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Miltiades embarkation_ship_number: A28 public_note: ''
7 Feb 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3787, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Miltiades, Adelaide
16 Aug 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3787, 50th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3787 awm_unit: 50 Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-08-16

Help us honour Walter John Clift's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography

Rootsweb ID: I60958 Birth Record: 18 April 1879 in Whyte Yarcowie, South Australia

Father: Nicholas Robert CLIFT b.1836 - d.18/5/1910 Stansbury, SA
Immigration: 17 Oct 1839 "Orissa" from Downs arriving 10/3/1840
(Orissa sailed from the Downs on 17/10/1839, from Plymouth 31/10/1839,
via Cape Town, arrived Port Adelaide on 10/3/1840 with Captain James Brown
and 130 Passengers.)

Married: 23 Mar 1861 in Willunga, South Australia, Australia

Mother: Louisa Knuckey ROWE b.1841 - d.
both deceased prior to Walter enlisting.

NOK: Sister: Miss Beatrice Rosette Clift, 4 Williams St, Norwood, SA
(30/4/1920 living at 9 Brigalow Avenue, Kensington Gardens, SA)

Older brother W N Clift (Jamestown, SA) and Older sister Mrs L Josling (Mile End, SA)
both had married and left home, prior to Walter enlisting.

SIBLINGS:
Louisa Jane CLIFT    b: 23/3/1862 in McLaren Vale, SA
William Nicholas CLIFT b: 29/7/1863 in McLaren Vale, SA - d. 13/11/1921 Jamestown, SA
-- Father of Harold Roy & Clarence Alfred Clift --
Elizabeth Eleanor CLIFT b: 8/7/1865 in Adelaide, SA
Alice Bertha CLIFT    b: 5/7/1867 in McLaren Vale, SA
Alfred George CLIFT    b: 27/3/1869 in McLaren Vale, SA - d.20/6/1925 Adelaide, SA
John Walter CLIFT    b: 1/1/1871 in McLaren Vale, SA - d.5/2/1876 Whyte Yarcowie, SA
Lila Edith CLIFT    b: 17/3/1873 in McLaren Vale, SA
Herbert Ernest CLIFT    b: 28/3/1875 in McLaren Vale, SA - d.5/2/1876 Whyte Yarcowie, SA
Rosetta Beatrica CLIFT   b: 21/12/1876 in Whyte Yarcowie, SA - d.28/3/1946 Kensington, SA
Walter John CLIFT    b: 18/4/1879 in Whyte Yarcowie, SA
Ethel May CLIFT    b: 11/5/1882 in Whyte Yarcowie, SA

Nephew: Private 3786 - Harold Roy CLIFT
              50th Battalion
              22/7/1917 returned to Australia, onboard HT 71 Nestor, from England
              16/3/1974 passed away in Rockhampton QLD (85yrs of age)

Nephew: Private 3788 - Clarence Alfred CLIFT
              50th Battalion
              16/8/1916 killed in action - on same day and location as uncle Walter
              Commemorated on the Australian Memorial, Villers-Brettoneux, Pozieres, France

Nephew: Sergeant 1110 - Herbert (Harry) Cecil BROWN
              10th Battalion
              16/9/1914 (19yrs) enlisted
              10/8/1918 killed in action, France
               buried in: Heath Cemetery, Plot VII, Row G, Grave 12, Harbonnieres, France

Described on enlisting as 36yrs 5mths old; 5' 10" tall; 162 lbs; medium complexion;
hazel eyes; dark hair; Church of England

17/9/1915 enlisted in Adelaide with his nephews Harold Roy Clift (3786)
and Clarence Alfred Clift (3788)

22/10/1915 appointed to F Company, 2nd Depot, Adelaide

1/11/1915 Morphettville Camp

2/4/1916 alloted to and proceeded to join 50th Battalion, Heliopolis
2/4/1916 taken on strength to 50th Battalion, Serapeum

5/6/1916       proceeded to join British Expeditionary Forces, Alexandria
                    embarked onboard HMT Arcadian
12/6/1916     disembarked into Marseilles, France

16/8/1916     killed in action (with nephew Clarence Alfred Clift) at Mouquet Farm, France
19/8/1916     Confirmed by Os. P Dalitz
                    "One big shell killed both Clarrie and Walter, who were both nobly sticking to
                     their guns and doing excellent work; they both died bravely......."

His name is commemorated on the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.

His name is commemorated on Panel 150 at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, ACT.

Medals: British War medal (30695) and Victory medal (30573)
Memorial Plaque and Scroll (326902)

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan. 14/5/2016. Lest we forget.

Thank you to Kaye Bottrall, Jamestown, SA for her information.

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia