CLIFFORD, Patrick Joseph
| Service Number: | 2563 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 March 1916, Townsville, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 4th Motor Transport Company |
| Born: | Charters Towers, Queensland, 12 March 1886 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Suicide (throat lacerations), Brisbane, Queensland, 29 November 1937, aged 51 years |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2563, Townsville, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2563, 41st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Kyarra embarkation_ship_number: A55 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2563, 41st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Kyarra, Brisbane | |
| 11 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2563, 4th Motor Transport Company |
Life Story of Patrick Clifford
In 1916 Patrick Joseph CLIFFORD enlisted in the Australian Army in Townsville at the age of 29 years. His description on his enlistment papers state he is 5' 6" tall, 9st. 12lb in weight, with a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His religion is Roman Catholic. His previous employment was a two year apprenticeship as a Blacksmith in Croydon, North Queensland.
He served with 42nd Battalion as a Private & his regimental number was 2563. His military records show he was sent to Lytton Camp in Brisbane on 26/06/1916 & sailed on board "Kyarra" on 17/11/1916 and arrived in Plymouth, England on 30/01/1917.
He proceeded overseas to France on 17/07/1918 and returned to Southampton on 04/06/1919. He returned to Australia on board "Persic" and disembarked on 02/09/1919. He was discharged on 11th October 1919. Patrick didn't marry until 1922 when he was 36 years old.
His wife Elizabeth gave evidence at his inquest into his death.
"Elizabeth Gillmore Clifford, widow of the deceased, said that Clifford was a returned soldier, who was slightly gassed at the war. When coming home from work on his bicycle the day after Coronation Day he met with an accident, his leg being broken in several places. He was in hospital six weeks, and used crutches. He was drawing £2/15/- per week compensation. He thought he would be a cripple all his life, and this worried him."
Unfortunately depression from his injury caused him to take his own life.He died in the General Hospital on November 29, 1937. The medical certificate showed that the primary cause of death was laceration of the throat.
Submitted 5 July 2016 by Jude Spalding
Biography contributed by John Edwards
"Ashgrove Man's Death from Throat Wounds
Patrick Joseph Clifford, 50, of Somme Street, Ashgrove, who was admitted to the Brisbane Hospital yesterday suffering from severe lacerations to the throat, died in that institution this morning." - from the Brisbane Telegraph 29 November 1937 (nla.gov.au)
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