Hubert Everard Clifton. MC

Second Lieutnant Hubert Everard Clifton His connection to Woolton cannot be 100% proved.

Hubert Everard Clifton MC born in Loughbough 14th July 1891

From the 1911 census Hubert father Richard James is a Wesleyan Church minister and mother Annie Louisa and older sister Beatrice the family is living at No 1 Marsh, 44 South Bar, Banbury, Hubert is 19 years of age, single and a law student, . Hubert was an exceptionally clever caricaturist, he intended entering the legal profession. and was about to leave university when war broke out so he joined up

An article in the Weekly newspaper dated 30th April 1915 of a Military Wedding of Bombardier Stewart in the Woolton Wesleyan Church the wedding was conducted by a Rev R J Clifton the same name as the 1911 census.

According to the England Election Register (1832 -1970) For Much Woolton 1914 – 1915 a Richard James Clifton living at 18 High St Woolton which is the same name as Hubert’s father.

Hubert was educated at Magnus Grammar School, Newark. The Rydal Mount School at Colwyn Bay He was admitted to Trinity College, Cambridge, on 1st October 1910 and obtained a BA in 1913.

Hubert Joined the 1st battalion Devonshire Regiment in 1914 and disembarked in France on 19th June 1915 . He received a slight wound near Morval, he shrugged off war wound with no problem, but the second, in the forearm, caused a severe hemorrhage during the Battle of the Somme. He was hospitalized in France and later at Fort Pitt military hospital, Chatham, where he died of pneumonia.. Posthumously awarded the Military Cross in addition to the 1915 Star, Victory and British war medals.

His father Richard was Wesleyan Superintendent Minister at Newark.

Hubert Clifton’s appointment as a temporary 2nd Lieutenant was gazetted on 11th December 1914 and he was formally commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Special Reserve of Officers with effect from the Thirtieth day of December 1914. He was posted to the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment and embarked for France in June 1915. At some point, we are aware that he was wounded, but appears to have recovered fairly

It seems likely that he was in The Battle of Flers-Courcelette, a subsidiary offensive in the Battle of the Somme. On about the 20th of September 1916, he was wounded in the forearm, which caused a severe haemorrhage and brought back to England. He became so ill on the hospital train that he was taken off the train and transferred to Fort Pitt Military Hospital, Chatham. Pneumonia supervened and 2nd Lieutenant Hubert Everard Clifton died on Thursday, 4th October with his parents present at his bedside. He is buried in Torquay.

Supplement to the Edinburgh Gazette November 16th 1916 2nd Lt Hubert Everard Clifton of the Devonshire Regiment receives MC

Second Lieutenant Hubert Everard Clifton MC died on the 4th October 1916 aged 25 and is Remembered with Honour Torquay Cemetery and Extension