Lawrence Joseph CLIFTON MM

Lawrence Joseph CLIFTON MM Update Details

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CLIFTON, Lawrence Joseph

Service Numbers:	396, N164224
Enlisted:	4 January 1916, Armidale, New South Wales
Last Rank:	Captain
Last Unit:	Volunteer Defence Corps (SA)
Born:	Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, 24 December 1891
Home Town:	Barraba, Tamworth Municipality, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Clerk
Died:	Natural causes, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia, 23 August 1963, aged 71 years
Cemetery:	Tamworth General Cemetery, New South Wales
Memorials:	Barraba Clifton's Ltd Pictorial Roll of Honour, Barraba M.U.I.O.O.F. Loyal Prince of Wales Lodge No 203 Tamworth District Great War Roll of Honor

World War 1 Service

4 Jan 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 396, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Armidale, New South Wales
4 May 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 396, 33rd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: ''
4 May 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 396, 33rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Marathon, Sydney
28 Oct 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 33rd Infantry Battalion
2 Apr 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Sergeant, 33rd Infantry Battalion
5 Jun 1917:	Wounded
18 Sep 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 33rd Infantry Battalion
3 Jan 1919:	Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 33rd Infantry Battalion
28 Jan 1919:	Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 35th Infantry Battalion
3 Apr 1919:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 35th Infantry Battalion
2 Mar 1920:	Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 35th Infantry Battalion

World War 2 Service

12 Apr 1942:	Enlisted Captain, N164224, Tamworth, New South Wales
12 Apr 1942:	Enlisted N164224
30 Sep 1945:	Discharged Captain, N164224, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA)

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Biography

Lieutenant Lawrence Clifton was Awarded the Military Medal for gallantry. (Recommended date 8/4/1918).

Served 33rd and 35th Battalions. Lawrence rescued his "desperately wounded" brother Maurice, on the battlefield on the Western Front April 1918. Lawrence stayed on in France until 1919.

Captain Lawrence Clifton Re-enlisted 12 Apr 1942 and was discharged 30 September 1945

"The 33rd Battalion. MEDAL FOR SGT. CLIFTON. HIS ADVENTURES IN ACTION.

The following is an extract from routine order No. 470, dated 13th May, 1918:—

The Corps Commander, under authority, delegated to him by his Majesty the King has awarded the Military Medal to No. 396, Sergeant Lawrence Joseph Clifton, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the counter-attack on the Marcel cave — Aubercourt line on March 30/31st, 1918, Sergeant Clifton acted as a platoon commander. He led his men with great determination and dash on all the officers in the vicinity becoming casualties he assumed command and reorganised his front under very heavy machine gun and rifle fire. He displayed splendid leadership and judgment, and by his determination he set a most inspiring example to his company, which suffered over 60 per cent, casualties. The Corps Divisional and Brigade Commanders desire that their congratulations be conveyed to the recipient. The Commanding Officer also desires to congratulate Sergeant Clifton.— Harold White, Lieut.-Colonel Commanding Battalion A.I.F.

Sergeant M. Clifton, of the 33rd Battalion, was admitted to the University War Hospital, Southampton, England, on 3rd April, wounded dangerously. The latest report was through the Red Cross, Sydney, and says that Sergeant M. Clifton is out of danger, and will be sent to Australia when fit to travel. Sergeant L. J. Clifton found and attended to his brother, Sergeant M. Clifton, on the battlefield, in fact saved his life. There were no stretcher-bearers available, and two wounded soldiers carried him till he got stretcher-bearers.

Gunner D. V. Clifton, late manager of Cliftons, Limited, Barraba, has been to see Sergeant M. Clifton in the hospital several times, and says he is doing well, and the nursing and attention the wounded get in those hospitals is simply splendid. A word of praise is also due lo the Sydney Branch of the Red Cross for the prompt and complete manner in which they attend to messages concerning our wounded." - from the Armidale Chronicle 14 Aug 1918 (nla.gov.au)

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