Clifford, William George (William)
Rifleman
No. 19/239, 10th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles previously
No. 18912, ‘C’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Saturday 24 November 1917 (aged 22)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Cambrai Memorial, France (Panel 10)
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
William George Clifford was born on 5 October 1895 in the townland of Moneyreagh and he was a son of William and Sarah Anne (Annie) Clifford (nee Duncan) who were married on 18 January 1892 in St Anne’s Church of Ireland Church Belfast. William Clifford (aged 25), a labourer from 2 Great Edward Street, Belfast, was a son of James Clifford, a labourer. Sarah Anne Duncan (aged 22), a stitcher from 2 Great Edward Street, Belfast, was a daughter of George Duncan, a farmer.
William Clifford worked as a labourer and he and Sarah Anne (Annie) had at least seven children including:
William George (born 22 October 1892 at 26 Frankfort Street, Belfast; died of bronchitis 12 October 1893 at 30 Frankfort Street, Belfast)
John (born 28 May 1894 in Moneyreagh)
William George (born 5 October 1895 in Moneyreagh)
Mary Agnes (born 19 March 1898 in Moneyreagh)
James (born 12 June 1900 in Moneyreagh)
Rachel Annie (born 10 March 1907 in Moneyreagh)
William George Clifford worked as a labourer before he enlisted in Belfast on 24 September 1914. It was noted in his attestation papers that he was 5 feet 5 inches tall with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark hair and he had warts on the back of his left hand.
Rifleman William George Clifford (No. 18912) served on the Home Front with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles before being discharged on 17 June 1915 at Clandeboye Camp when he was pronounced to be physically unfit because of defective vision.
William George Clifford re-enlisted in November 1915 in Belfast and served with the 10th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division.
Rifleman William George Clifford (No. 19/239) was killed in action on 24 November 1917 and after his death his parents lived at 7 Wayland Street, Castlereagh Road, Belfast.
Rifleman William George Clifford (No. 19/239) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial in France and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 106).