Herbert Clifford in 1910

Soldier Details

Born: Oct. 5, 1890
Where: London, England
Died: Feb. 25, 1960
Relation: Great-grandfather
Enlisted: Sept. 21, 1914 (attestation papers)
Married: Yes, with two children
Reg. #: 26540
Regiment: 14th Battalion
Rank: Private, L/Corporal (Apr. 1915), A/Sergeant (Apr. 1919)

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Timeline

September 1914
21 – Enlisted at Valcartier
28 – Departed Valcartier by train for Quebec, boarded SS Andania
29 – Sailed down St. Lawrence

October 1914 (War Diary)
3 – SS Andania joined convoy for trans-atlantic sailing
14 – Arrived at Plymouth, England
18 – Arrived at West Down South, Salisbury Plain

November 1914 (War Diary)
23 – All Battalions reorganized into 4 Company and platoon basis. Herbert likely becomes member of Company No. 3 at this time (was in Co. 4, 5 or 6 previously).

December 1914 (War Diary)
12 – 14th wins 1.5 mile foot race against other battalions of 3rd brigade
21 – Battalion moved to hutments at Lark Hill, Salisbury Plain

January 1915 (War Diary)

February 1915 (War Diary Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3)
10 – Departed Lark Hill for Bristol Docks
11 – Embarked for France on board H.M. Transport “Australind”
15 – Arrived St. Nazaire
16 – Departed St. Nazaire by train
18 – Arrived Hazebrouck, detrained and marched to Fletre
23 – March to Armentieres and attached to 17th British Brigade
24 – Platoons enter trenches for the first time

March 1915 (War Diary Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3)
2 – March to Bac St. Maur
4 – Entered the trenches at Rue Petillon amid shelling and sniping, 1 killed
5 – 1 killed by sniper
6 – Relieved by 15th Battalion and march back to billets in Rue du Quesne
9 – Cos. 1, 2 & 4 return to trenches, No. 3 remains in reserve
10 – Battle of Neuve Chapelle but 14th sees little action
12 – 1 killed, 1 wounded while on patrol
17 – Cos. 1, 3 & 4 relieve 15th Battalion, No. 2 remains in reserve
18 – 1 killed, 2 wounded by sniper
20 – 3 killed, 7 wounded. Relieved by 15th, returned to billets
24 – Cos. 1, 2 & 4 relieve 15th, No. 3 remains in reserve
26 – Heavy fighting, many wounded. Relieved by 1st Worcesters
27 – Arrived at billets in Estaires near midnight on 26th

April 1915 (War Diary Pt 1, Pt 2, Pt 3)
7 – Marched to Cassel where billeted
15 – Travelled to Steenvoorde where billeted for night
16 – Bused to Poperinghe then marched to north of Wieltje. Relieved French troops in trenches near St. Julien. Cos. 1 and 4 in line, No. 3 in dug-outs 300 yards behind No. 4 who are on left immediately next to French.
21 – Relieved by 13th Battalion, casualties 7 killed, 15 wounded. Marched back to billets in St. Jean.
22 – Second Battle of Ypres begins when Germans release chlorine gas against the French who are on the 14th’s left flank. Cos. 1, 3 & 4 take up positions in G.H.Q. line. Herbert (now a Lance Corporal) goes out on patrol with Corp. William Kirby and Pte A. Harley. Herbert receives a gunshot wound to the thigh and is captured (as are the others). He spends two weeks in a German hospital before being transferred to a POW camp.

May 1915
1 – Reported as wounded, Casualty List No. 46

July 1915
16 – Reported as POW at Meschede, Casualty List No. 110

November 1915
1 – Reported as POW at Giessen, Casualty List No. 199

June 1916
6 – Reported as POW at Lichenhorst, Soltou, Casualty List No. 359

December 1918
28 – Released at Dover

March 1919
26 – Taken on Strength at Rhyl

July 1919
25 – Taken on Strength at Witley Camp

August 1919
28 – Embarked for Canada, via New York, aboard S.S. Celtic

September 1919
4 – Arrived New York City
6 – Demobilized at Montreal

January 1920
29 – Arrives in Liverpool aboard the Empress of France

February 1920
11 – Enlists with the Cheshire Regiment at Birkenhead

February 1924
10 – Discharged from the Cheshire Regiment at Chester.