(L to R) British War Medal; Allied Victory Medal
We don't know anything about Clifford's family or his early life.
The First World War broke out in August 1914 and Clifford seems to have joined the Manchester Regiment in around early 1916. He was living in the Manchester area when he enlisted. He was given the service number 43986.
We don't know when he was sent to France. By early October 1916 he was a member of the 18th Battalion, serving in the trenches to the west of the town of Bapaume. On the 12th October the 18th Battalion took part in an attack on several German held villages that defended the hills near this town.
The battalion advanced after an artillery barrage. It was hoped that this would destroy the German defences, but it had not. Out of around 350 men who had taken part in the attack 250 were killed, wounded or missing. The survivors sheltered in shell craters until they were able to return to the British lines the next day. Clifford was not with them.
We don't know how old Clifford was when he died. His body was never found so along with 72,202 other soldiers he is now listed on the Thiepval Memorial in France. Clifford's name is on Pier 13 Face A or Pier 14 Face C.
Clifford's medals were donated to the Museum of the Manchester Regiment in November 2000.
