4/1249 - 2nd Corporal

Francis Henry

CLIFFORD

Main Body - Section No.1

Timeline


1915

1915

6 October

Enlistment

Auckland Military District

1915

11 October

Initial training

Avondale, Auckland

1915

18 December

Transfer to England

S.S. Ruapehu

1916

1916

3 February

Marched in to the Company Training Camp, Falmouth

1916

9 March

Embarked for France

1916

16 March

From the Front

The Company joined the underground warfare in the North of France

Chantecler, Sector of Arras

1916

24 July

Promoted Sergeant

1916

16 November

From the Front

The Company began the operations to connect old underground quarries in Arras in order to accommodate thousands of soldiers for an upcoming battle

1917

1917

9 April

Battle of Arras

British Offensive


From the Front

The Company was employed to rebuild a major road leading to the Front during the battle

Arras-Cambrai Road

1917

5 May

From the Front

The Company moved to Monchy, ten kilometres east of Arras, to work on the fortification of the new front line

The Billets in Monchy

1917

18 June

Detached to NZ Depot, Morbecque

1917

25 June

Rejoined the Company

1917

22 October

Admitted to hospital with diarrhea

1917

1 November

Rejoined the Company

1918

From the Front

The Company was still carrying out the digging of underground premises and defences on the Front near Arras

The Workshop in Arras

1918

21 March

Spring Offensive

German Attacks


From the Front

The Company was engaged in the defence of Arras by digging new trenches and dug-outs under constant enemy shellfire

1918

2 June

Granted leave

1918

20 June

Rejoined the Company

1918

20 July

Detached to Gas School

1918

2 August

Rejoined the Company

1918

8 August

100 Days Offensive

Allied Attacks

1918

27 September

From the Front

The Company experienced its newly reconversion in bridge construction

In front of the Havrincourt Bridge

1918

11 November

Armistice

Cessation of Hostilities


From the Front

The Company continued to build bridges to reconnect a fragmented territory

Over the Sambre River, Maubeuge
1919

1919

22 January

Discharged

1919

29 January

Embarked for England

1919

30 January

Marched in to NZ Depot, Larkhill

1919

15 February

Marched in to NZ Depot, Codford

1919

14 March

Transfer to New Zealand

R.M.S. Ionic

1919

22 May

Final discharge

End of Service

Decoration

Distinguished Conduct Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When every endeavour was being made to complete machine-gun nests in anticipation of a heavy hostile attack in March 1918 at Roeux, his utter disregard for danger, his skill and personal example enabled the work to be completed prior to the attack, although the area was persistently searched by hostile trench-mortar and machine-gun fire. During his two and a half years service in forward areas he has always set his men a notable example of courage and devotion to duty.

Medalia pentru barbatie si credinta (Romania)
Bravery and Loyalty Medal (Romania)

For distinguished services rendered during the course of the campaign.

British War Medal
British War Medal

Victory Medal
Victory Medal

Sources and bibliography

  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira, Online Cenotaph He Toa Taumata Rau: Francis Henry CLIFFORD.
  • London Gazette, 3 September 1919, p. 11190.
  • Ibid., 20 September 1919, p. 11754.
  • Nominal Roll of New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1915. New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company, Wellington, Government Printer, 1916, p. 2.

How to cite this page

Anthony BYLEDBAL, “Francis Henry CLIFFORD (4/1249)”, New Zealand Tunnellers, 2024 (2009). Accessed: 21 December 2024. URL: https://www.nztunnellers.com/roll/details.php?id=130