CLIFT, William Francis
| Service Number: | 2642 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 May 1916, Perth, WA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Balaklava, South Australia, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Cottesloe, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Assembler |
| Died: | Manjimup, Western Australia, 8 April 1968, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia Ashes scattered over garden |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 22 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2642, 48th Infantry Battalion, Perth, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Oct 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2642, 48th Infantry Battalion, HMAT 'Port Melbourne' from Fremantle, WA | |
| 3 May 1917: | Involvement 48th Infantry Battalion, The Battalion was fighting at Westhoek Ridge, Polygon Wood in October. At 1215 on the 12th of October 1917 they left Westhoek Ridge to take up position on the Jump-off line. The battalion came under heavy fire and William suffered a gun shot wound to his left leg and right elbow. He was transferred to England 2 days later and admitted to the Wellington Road Auxiliary Hospital in Liverpool. His leg was fractured at the lower end of the humerus. | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Wounded Polygon Wood, William suffered a gun shot wound to his left leg and right elbow. He was transferred to England 2 days later and admitted to the Wellington Road Auxiliary Hospital in Liverpool. His leg was fractured at the lower end of the humerus. | |
| 31 Oct 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1 | |
| 10 Mar 2018: | Embarked 48th Infantry Battalion, William embarked from England for Australia on the 10th of March 1918 aboard the “Durham Castle” |
Help us honour William Francis Clift's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
William was the youngest son of William Henry CLIFT & Ellen SMITH and was born on the 22nd of July 1887 in the Hundred of Stow SA.
His mother; Ellen, was the daughter of Caleb SMITH & Ann PARK and was born in 1850 Woodchester Gloucestershire, England. She had immigrated with her parents on the “North” and had arrived at Pt Adelaide SA on the 28th January 1859.
His father; William was the son of William Mann CLIFT & Mary Jane KELLY and was born 6th December 1858 McLaren Vale SA.
William’s parents; William & Ellen, were married on the 19th of December 1878, at Ellen’s uncle’s residence, Mr Henry Glastonbury, Gawler SA by Rev. S Fairley.
The family lived at Willaston, Gawler South
His father died in 1899, when he was 12 years old.
His sister; Louisa, attended the Gawler Primary School, but it is unsure if William did.
His sister; Louisa, married in Narrogin, WA in 1905 and by 1912, William had moved to Narrogin, WA and was employed as a contractor.
William was then employed as an assembler.
He married Stella May FORREST on the 14th of August 1915 Perth WA. Stella was the daughter of George FORREST & Emma HAWKES and was born on the 29th of August 1884 in Wasleys, SA. By 1906 her family had moved to Shenton Road, Claremont and Stella was a clothing machinist. Her father; George, was an orchardist.
William enlisted into the 48th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements on the 22nd of May 1916 in Perth, WA and was allotted the service number 2642.
He listed his wife; Stella, of Gibney Street, Cottesloe, WA, as his next of kin.
He embarked from Fremantle for Port Melbourne on the 30th of October 1916.
He embarked from Sydney aboard the “A40 Ceramic” on the 7th of October 1916, disembarking in Devonport, England on the 28th of December 1916.
He was entrained at the 12th Training Battalion in Codford.
William proceeded to France on the 3rd of May 1917.
The Battalion was fighting at Westhoek Ridge, Polygon Wood in October. At 1215 on the 12th of October 1917 they left Westhoek Ridge to take up position on the Jump-off line.
The battalion came under heavy fire and William suffered a gun shot wound to his left leg and right elbow.
He was transferred to England 2 days later and admitted to the Wellington Road Auxiliary Hospital in Liverpool.
His leg was fractured at the lower end of the humerus.
William embarked from England for Australia on the 10th of March 1918 aboard the “Durham Castle”
William was discharged on the 31st of October 1918.
After his discharge, they lived at Jewell Street, East Perth, but by 1921 they had moved to Lochee Street, Cottesloe Beach and William had returned to be an assembler.
In 1925 they lived at Minnivale.
By 1930 they had moved to Quairading and William was a farm hand.
By 1943 they had moved to Ladywell Street, Kenwick and William was a Poultry farmer.
In 1958 they lived at Lot 3, Albany Highway, Kenwick and William was an egg inspector.
Stella died on the 20th of January 1960 in Kenwick WA and was cremated in the Karrakatta Cemetery. Her ashes were scattered over the garden in the cemetery.
William died on the 8th of April 1968 in Manjimup WA and was cremated in the Karrakatta Cemetery. His ashes were scattered over the garden in the cemetery.
Paul Lemar
RSL Macclesfield South Australia
Grandfather Alfred Smith was first cousing to William
Click images to start slideshow.