HILLS, Clifford John
| Service Number: | 1192 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 September 1914, An original member of H Company |
| Last Rank: | Company Quartermaster Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Hamilton, Tasmania, Australia, 25 March 1893 |
| Home Town: | Hamilton, Central Highlands, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Dromedary State School, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Hobart, Tasmania, Australia , 4 January 1984, aged 90 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cornelian Bay Cemetery and Crematorium, Tasmania Derwent Gardens, Garden Bed, M, Number 1374 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1192, 15th Infantry Battalion, An original member of H Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1192, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1192, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne | |
| 1 Jan 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 29 May 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1192, 15th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 21 Aug 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1192, 15th Infantry Battalion, The August Offensive - Lone Pine, Suvla Bay, Sari Bair, The Nek and Hill 60 - Gallipoli | |
| 14 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Honoured Military Medal, Polygon Wood | |
| 29 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 30 Oct 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Quartermaster Sergeant, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Aug 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Company Quartermaster Sergeant, 1192, 15th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Clifford John Hills was the son of Eden Thomas and Sarah Hills of Hamilton, Tasmania.
He enlisted in 1914, one of the first to join up, and was an original member of the 15th Battalion. His older brother, 1650 Joseph Norman Hills also joined the 15th Battalion in 1914.
Both brothers were wounded at Gallipoli during 1915, Clifford on 29 May 1915 when he was evacuated to Egypt with a bomb wound to his left leg. He returned to Gallipoli and was again wounded during the August offensive of 1915, more seriously, a bomb wound to his left shoulder which eventually resulted in his evacuation to England. He was treated for many months in a Lewisham hospital.
Whilst being treated he found the love of his life and married one Emily Green in a London registry office, on 16 December 1915.
He got himself into trouble during February 1916 when he had to face a Regimental Court Martial for striking a guard who had him under detention. He was found guilty and sentenced to 24 days detention, but had already been in detention for 27 days.
Eventually he made his way back to France in July 1916 and rejoined the 15th Battalion in the midst of the Pozieres fighting during late July 1916. He was injured by a fall of earth in August 1916 and sent hospital. When he rejoined the 15th Battalion at Christmas 1916, he was promoted to Corporal. He was sick with myalgia during March 1917 and sent to England, rejoining his unit at the front in July 1917.
He was promoted to Sergeant and was awarded a Military Medal during the Battle of Polygon Wood, “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during our attack on enemy positions near ZONNEBEKE on 26th September, 1917. He was of great value to his Company Commander in disposing the Company at the forming up position prior to the attack and when attack was launched, he showed exceptional qualities as a leader, he kept his men well in hand and inspired them by his example. When his Platoon Commander was wounded, he immediately took charge and succeeded in reaching his objective and consolidated his position. He has been previously noticed for gallant work and utter disregard of his own safety.”
Clifford was promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant soon after and was returned to Australia in February 1918, reputedly to become a member of Staff, on the orders of the GOC AIF, General Birdwood.
His older brother, Company Sergeant Major Joseph Norman Hills 47th Battalion AIF was killed in action at Dernancourt on 5 April 1918, aged 28.
His youngest brother, 6038 Private Raymond Timothy Hills 12th Battalion AIF, enlisted at 18 years of age and returned to Australia in early 1919, having also been wounded on four separate occasions. In fact, between the three brothers, they suffered no less than 9 serious wounds.
Clifford took his English bride home with him and they raised a family. He seemed to be involved in the hotel business for much of his life, being licensee to many hotels, including some in Hobart during the 1930’s and 1940’s. He has a medical file over 400 pages digitised in the National Archives.
He passed away in 1983, aged 90, three years after his wife Emily died at 93 years of age.
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