Name
Charles Albert Clifton
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/05/1917
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30765
East Surrey Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 6
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Watford memorials, Not on the Croxley Green memorials
Pre War
There is an article about Charles in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 2 March 1918.
Son of Robert Nathaniel and the late Susan (nee Fox) Clifton; husband of Elizabeth (nee Hull) Clifton. His parents married 1881 in the Kingston, Surrey, district.
Charles was born 1889 in Hammersmith, London, and married Elizabeth Hull in 1915 at All Saints’ Church, Croxley Green. Elizabeth was born and raised in Croxley. They had one child Kenneth, born in 1916.
On the 1891 Census, aged 1 Charles lived in Acton, Middx, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he lived in Watford, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, a house painter aged 21, he still lived in Watford at 123 Whippendell Road, with his parents and four siblings.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his wife as living at 36 New Rd, which was her parents’ home at the 1911 census and the 1918 electoral registration. It is not clear whether Charles lived in Croxley during the war, however the Hertford Mercury, dated 9th March 1918 suggested that his address was 36 New Road, Croxley Green..
Recorded as born in Kensington and living in Watford, when he enlisted in Mill Hill.
Wartime Service
He was originally reported missing on the 8th May, 1917, however by the 9th March 1918 he was presumed killed in action.
His battalion was part of the 95th Brigade, 5th Division which was involved in the Arras offensive when Charles was killed.
Acknowledgments
Brian Thomson, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
