Nickname(s) Ken, Kenny Service number NX3698 Battles and wars World War II | Rank Lieutenant Role Author Years of service 1939–45 Name Ken Clift Other work Author | |
Born 9 January 1916Sydney, Australia ( 1916-01-09 ) Awards Distinguished Conduct Medal1939–1945 StarAfrica StarPacific StarDefence MedalMedal of CreteAustralian Service MedalMilitary Medal and the Order of Crete Books The Saga of a Sig: The Wartime Memories of Six Years Service in the Second A.I.F. | ||
Kenneth Rochester Clift DCM (9 January 1916 – 22 July 2009) was an Australian soldier and author. During World War II, he served with the 6th Division Signals and the 1st Parachute Battalion, and for his actions around Tobruk in 1941 he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After the war, he published several books including The Saga of a Sig. In 2007, when Clift was 91, the Defence Force School of Signals (DFSS) Holding Troop was renamed the "Ken Clift Troop" in his honour.
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War service
The day after war was declared, Clift enlisted with the Second AIF and sailed in the first convoy to Palestine. He saw service in Libya, Egypt, Bardia, Tobruk, Greece and Crete then, while returning to Australia, stopped in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where he completed a commando selection course. He later fought in the Kokoda Track campaign.
He entered the war as a signaller in the 2/1st Battalion (part of the 16th Brigade, 6th Division) and was discharged as a lieutenant in the 1st Australian Parachute Battalion in October 1945. He was in hospital when the war ended, after fracturing his back in a parachute jump. He always said that being a corporal was the easiest rank to get, noting that he was promoted to it four times in one year – and was busted back down again the same number of times.
Clift was regarded as a near miss for the Victoria Cross for his actions around Tobruk in 1941. He and two other linesmen, working ahead of the advancing troops, took on a battery of Italian field guns protected by machine-guns. With a cry of "At them, boys", Clift led the charge – between them they had only two pistols, a rifle and a few grenades with which to capture the guns and about sixty enemy soldiers.
Clift Troop
"The Clift Troop" was another tribute to Clift in 2007. Clift attended the service as did some of his family. The troop formally known as "DFSS Holding Troop" put work in researching Clift's life and some of the soldiers put on a presentation and a speech on their research. Clift also spoke at the service, complimenting and thanking the troop for their work.
Death
On 22 July 2009, Clift died at the age of 93 at a Sydney Hospital in Bondi at roughly 1:15 am, surrounded by family. Ken was survived by his wife Valrie and their children Kenneth, Ian, Patricia White and Denise Redmond, sixteen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren as well as his sisters Laurel O'Neill and Patricia Young and younger brother Don.
Clift's funeral was held at a Sydney crematorium. Many of Clift's friends and family attended as well as a number of soldiers from the "Clift Troop" who formed a guard of honour for his coffin. There were so many people at the crematorium for the service that they completely filled the building, which meant a number of people had to stand outside looking in through the door to see the service.
Written works
He also wrote a play, Sister Street, based on his war experiences, which was performed for Anzac Day in 2003.