Born at South Melbourne. Enlisted 5 August 1914 age 19 years, gardener. Father deceased, Nok mother, Margaret Cookesley who, for the term of Clifford’s service record, resided at Perth and West Perth. Embarked at Fremantle on 2 November 1914 per A11 Ascanius and served at Gallipoli and then in France where he was wounded by poisonous gas on 21 September 1916. On 20 November 1916, when at Coissy in France, he reported blurred vision and transferred to the UK where a brain tumour was diagnosed and he died on 1 March 1917. Buried in the Australian Section of Harefield, St, Mary, Churchyard Cemetery UK Grave 14 (an entry 146 changed to 14). Service medals: 1914-15 Star, BWM, and VM. Margaret Cookesley in reply to a letter re payment for extra wording expressed on the memorial, explained her poverty of existing on a war widow’s pension of one pound ($2.00) per week. Cottesloe and district Honour Rolls.
