Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Jeffery Clifford was born on November 12, 1881, in Adelaide, South Australia. He was a natural-born British subject and spent most of his early life in Renmark Paringa in South Australia. Before enlisting in the military, he lived in Renmark. William was the only child of James Clifford and Sarah Pearce. 

Before joining the AIF, Clifford worked as a Boundary Rider. This job involved traveling long distances across rural paddocks to check fences and make sure that livestock didn’t escape and that stray animals didn’t enter. It was an important role, as keeping fences in good condition helped protect farmers' property and livestock. His work required a lot of independence, patience, and physical endurance, as he would have spent long hours outdoors, often in harsh weather conditions.

On November 2, 1915, at 33 years and 11 months old, Clifford officially enlisted to serve in World War I. At the time, he was 5 feet 7.5 inches (171.5 cm) tall and weighed 135 lbs. (61.7 kg). He had a fresh complexion, blue eyes, and dark brown hair. He also had tattoos on his forearms, upper arms, and chest, which was not uncommon among soldiers. His religious denomination was Church of England, which was one of the most common faiths among Australian soldiers during the war. Clifford had no prior background in the army before enlisting. He trained at Mitcham with the Base Light Horse before being deployed

 
Most of the early training revolved around fitness. Physical training required very little if any equipment and until the quartermaster could overcome the equipment shortages the instructors had to make do with whatever was readily available. Physical training was easy to plan and conduct and served to demonstrate to those men who’d worked in sedentary positions prior to enlistment just how unfit they really were. It was during the physical training sessions that the officers emphasized the importance of every soldier in the battalion maintaining the highest level of fitness. They conducted activities that included long route marches, cross country runs in full kit, obstacle crossing drills, bayonet fighting, rope climbing, stretcher carrying and crawling along the ground under low barbed wire. 
 

He embarked from Adelaide aboard HMAT Warilda on February 10th, 1916, as a private with service number 1951, initally serving with the 9th Light Horse Regiment which was primarily composed of soldiers from various Australian states, notably South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

As a Private (then later Mustered as a Driver from 1st May 1916), he and the 9th Light Horse Regiment trained in Egypt where the intense training included training out in the desert every day for 8 hours, except Sundays. This critical training period involved numerous drills, teamwork exercises. After the challenging training phase, William joined the British Expeditionary Force and was sent to fight in France disembarking at Marisilles on 29th June 1916. The following month Clifford was taken on strength with the 25th Field Artillery.

In December 1916 Clifford was hospitalised with Bronchitis. He received initial treatement at 45th Casualty Clearing Station and then was moved to hospital in Rouen France. He was then transferred to England for further treatment on 12th December diagnosed with 'severe bronchitis and was admitted to the 2nd Southern General Hospital. Clifford then served at various base depots located in Weymouth and Hurdcott before returning to the front in July 1917 and was taken on strength with the 14th Field Artillery. 

However, not long after in September he caught influenza and was transferred to hospital for treatment and then different convalescent depots. In February 1918 he rejoined the front line. In August 1918 Clifford took two weeks leave in England and returned to the 14th Field Artillery 12th September 1918. He was wounded due to a shell explosion in October 1918 and was hospitalised with a shot wound to his left shoulder. He was treated at first in France and then was sent to England to recover.

Clifford arrived home on the 28th of March 1919 and was officially discharged from the AIF 21st June 1919. He returned to live in Renmark and worked as a labourer in the lead up to World War 2. He enlisted again 24th August, 1940, at the age of 58. His next of kin was yet again his mother as he was still single.
 
Clifford reported for duty on the 28th August 1940 and served in South Australia and Alice Springs. He was hospitalised a couple of times dermatitis which is the inflammation of the skin. He was discharged in 1943 at the age of 61 and 3 month. 
 
William Jeffery Clifford passed away on the 21st of November 1950, at age 69. 
 

Bibliography: 

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/572731  

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6338632 

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C168275#:~:text=After%20the%20men%20of%20the,hours%20each%20day%20except%20Sundays. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_Light_Horse_Regiment_(Australia)#:~:text=The%20regiment%20comprised%20twenty%2Dfive,rifle%20strength%20by%20a%20quarter. 

https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/things/light-horse-memorial/#:~:text=The%209th%20Light%20Horse%20Regiment,Egyptian%20revolt%20in%20March%201919.  

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/gallipoli