Allan Eustace Clifford was killed in action on 13 October 1944 at the age of 22. He was a Captain in the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment (Service No. 262376). He was buried initially at the Cemetery De Kleffen, Overloon and later reinterred on 30/1/1946 in grave I. A. 6. at the Overloon CWGC Cemetery. The inscription on his grave reads: “We will remember in the sunset glory the life you gave which shall never grow old.”
 
No photo of Allan Eustace Clifford has yet been found. Should anyone reading this have a photo of him or further information regarding him – or if they are aware of any errors in his biography below can they please contact the Foundation?

Military Career

It is thought that Allan Eustace Clifford initially joined the Royal Artillery in 1941 with a different service number (1129870) and was transferred to the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 21/8/1942. It seems that, by 6/2/1943, he had been transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps as he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on that date. It is likely that he had again been transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment sometime before D-Day.
 
The 2nd Battalion took part in the D- Day landings on 6 June 1944 and lost many men as a consequence. On 15/6/1944 Acting Lieutenant AE Clifford was reported as wounded. This would have been when the Battalion were in the vicinity of Chateau de la Lande. The Battalion had to be substantially reinforced in late July when it had returned across the Orne to Beuville, near Caen in France. It played a part in action to secure a road junction at Vire in mid August but played no further part in the Battle of Normandy. In September they were in Belgium and successfully crossed the Escaut canal as part of the ill-fated Market Garden operation, arriving in Gemert in Holland on 26 September where they received a tremendous welcome. Members of the regiment were billeted in the area until 1 October, generally in barns with straw to sleep on. It is assumed that Allan Clifford’s wounds did not prevent him moving on with his battalion.
 
The Battle of Overloon began on 12 October and it raged until the 15th amid continual rain and mud. The East Yorkshires commenced their attack at 12 noon on the 12th by starting to clear a wood, though they quickly came under considerable shell and mortar fire. While making some progress, one company lost their officers and Company Sergeant Major and were being commanded by a corporal. However, by 7pm the day’s objectives had been met. There continued to be considerable enemy shelling and mortaring throughout the night. The area had been heavily mined, so movement was very restricted. There were 48 men wounded and three killed. The War Diary records that Captain A E Clifford was one of the men killed that day, whereas the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and other military records gives his date of death as 13 October. It is likely that he may have died in the attacks overnight on 12  to 13 October. It is clear that by the time of his death he had been promoted to Acting Captain.

Family Background

Allan Eustace Clifford was the son of Horace Austin Clifford and Daisy Dorothy Roberts who had married in 1918 in Wandsworth, London.
 
Horace A Clifford was the son of Edward John Clifford and Emily Minnie Mills who had married in 1881 in Stow on the Wold in Gloucestershire.
 
Edward was born in 1850 in Maughersbury which is a small village just outside Stow on the Wold. Emily was born in 1858 in Stow on the Wold. Edward was a stone mason. They had ten children as follows, all born in Stow on the Wold or nearby Maughersbury: Mabel Violet Elizabeth 1881, Augustus Edward 1883, Harold John 1885, Horace Austin 20/9/1886, Claud Cyril 1888, Lucian Robert 1890, Eustace George 1892, Reginald O 1896 and twins Edward Francis and Norman Decimus born 9/6/1899.
 
In 1891 Edward and Emily were living at Hope Cottage, The Pits, Maugersbury with their first six children. By 1901 they were living in Chapel Street, Stow on the Wold with all ten of their children. Mabel was working as a mother’s help, Augustus was a Mason’s apprentice, Harold was a Printer’s apprentice, Horace was a Bookseller’s Errand Boy and Claud was also an errand boy. As well as his job as a Stone Mason, their father was also described as a Teacher of Phonography. Sadly, Emily Minnie Clifford died later in 1901, so by 1911 Edward was a widower, still living in Chapel Street. With him were all his children except Augustus, Claud and Reginald. Harold was now a Stone Mason, Horace was a Carpenter Builder, Lucian was a Builder’s Labourer and Eustace was a Carriage Builder’s Apprentice. By 1921 Edward was back living at the Pits, Stow on the Wold. His daughter, Mabel, was his Housekeeper. His son Norman was a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Gloucester Regiment while Edward was a Grocer’s Assistant. James Edward and Phyllis Adelaide Clifford were boarders, with James also being a Grocer’s Assistant.
 
Edward John Clifford died on 5/4/1931 in Stow on the Wold aged 81.
 
Daisy Dorothy Roberts was the daughter of Stephen William Roberts and Jane Rowe who had married in the Lambeth district of London in 1865.  Stephen was born around 1835 in Southwark and Jane around 1845 in Newington. Stephen was a Paper Hanger. They had children as follows: Samuel W 1866, Ann Isabel 1867, Albert Edward 1870, Jane Eliza 1872, Frederick Henry 1875, Louisa Beatrice 1877, Henry Walter 1880, Emily Jane 1883 and Daisy Dorothy on 9/11/1889. Daisy was born in Wandsworth and the others in Southwark. However, it seems that Jane Eliza died in 1875 and Frederick Henry in 1878
 
In 1871 they were living at Lion Street, Newington, St Saviour Southwark with their first three children. They were still at 24 Lion Street in 1881 with their five surviving children. Samuel William was working as a Bookbinder’s Assistant and Annie as a General Servant. By 1891 they had moved to 4, Wickersley Road, Battersea, Wandsworth with their four youngest children, including Daisy. They were at the same address in 1901 with the same children present. Louisa was working as a Servant, Henry as a Builder’s Labourer and Emily as a Packer. Stephen Roberts died in Wandsworth in 1903 so by 1911 Jane was a widow, but still living at the same address. Louisa, Henry and Daisy were still with her. Louisa was working as a Charwoman, Henry as a Labourer and Daisy as a Cigar Bander.
 
After their marriage in 1918, Horace Austin Clifford and Daisy Dorothy Roberts went on to have two children: Alma Dorothy on 15/1/1920 and Allan Eustace on 4/3/1922 in Wandsworth.
 
In 1921, Horace and Daisy were living in Daisy’s family home at 4, Wickersley Road, Lavender Hill, Battersea. He was now working as a Carpenter Instructor for the Metropolitan Asylum Board. Their daughter Alma was with them and also Daisy’s brother, Henry Walter Roberts, who was working as a builder’s labourer but was out of work. Henry later died in 1925 in Wandsworth.
 
By September 1939 Horace and Daisy had moved with their two children to 160 Eversleigh Road, Battersea, Wandsworth. Horace was still a Carpenter (Instructor). Alma was working as a Shorthand Typist while Allan was working as a Stockbroker’s Clerk.
 
Sadly, Allan was killed in action in Overloon on 13/10/1944.
 
His sister Alma went on to marry Frank P Flanagan in 1963 in Fulham. However, they had no children.
 
Allan’s father, Horace A Clifford, died in 1961 in Battersea and Daisy Clifford in 1980 in Wandsworth.
 
His sister, Alma Dorothy Flanagan, died on 8/1/1999 in Kingston upon Thames.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records

Information on the East Yorkshire Regiment from a thesis written by Tracy Craggs for her PhD with the Department of History, University of Sheffield 2007 “An `Unspectacular’ War? Reconstructing the history of the 2nd Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment during the Second World War”.

East Yorkshire Regiment War Diary from Traces of War Website

Research Elaine Gathercole