The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- Clifton
- First Name:
- Kenneth
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX9243
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- 'A' Company
- Enlisted:
- 30.10.1940
- Discharged:
- 11.12.1945
- DOB:
- 15.07.1903
- Place of Birth:
- Norwood, South London, England
- Father's Name:
- Percy Clifton
- Mothers's Name:
- Grace Clifton
- Religion:
- Church of England
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Farmhand
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp Changi, River Valley Road Camp, Selarang Barracks Changi, Pulau Blakang Mati (from 5.11.1943), Changi Gaol Camp, Kranji Camp Woodlands
- POW#:
- 3/7303 and 1/7302
- Return Details 1945:
- Singapore‐Darwin‐Sydney, HMT Arawa, Sydney-Melboume by troop train, Melbourne-Fremantle- HMT Strathmore.
General Description
Whilst a POW in Singapore Ken Clifton was selected to work at Blakang Mati from 5 November 1943. Please go to Camps to read about conditions at Blakang Mati.
He had a history of beri beri and was hospitalised in Singapore on 20 August 1942.
He was recovered from Kranji Camp on 31st August, 1945.
Walter (Cyril) Evans WX9230 with Ken Clifton.
Walter Evans WX9230 died June 1945 Sandakan.
Cyril Evans and Ken Clifton were both born in England and migrated to Western Australia. Ken arrived in 1922 on ‘Ormonde’ and was one of a group of about 15 boys, aged about 18 years who came from Church Army Training Farm, Hempstead Hall, near Saffron, Waldon.
Ken married Myra Thelma Moir in 1929 and they lived Warungar where he was a farmhand. Myra was first cousin to Andrew, George and Lloyd Moir.
Myra’s mother Mary (aka Mae) was older sister to Andrew’s father John (Jack) Moir, and Evangeline (Eva) Moir who married George (Clem) Moir parents to George and Lloyd.
When Ken returned home from the war he was found to be dairy farming at East Porongerups.
Following a divorce, Ken Clifton married to Enid Shackleton in 1950, Albany. Enid Shackleton was the widow of James Harold Shackleton WX9252. Shackleton died 6 Sep 1942 of acute bacillary dysentery whilst at the Regimental Aid Post, Bukit Timah. He was 38 years old.
Shackleton, Evans and Clifton had all arrived from England in their 20’s. Ken Clifton and James Shackleton were more than likely known to each other prior to enlisting, if not then certainly after as they enlisted same day and they both joined ‘A’ Company as Drivers. Evans also joined ‘A’ Coy. They had all resided in the region of Albany.
Ken Clifton died 8 May 1998 and was buried at Albany Cemetery. His wife Enid died 22 Sept 2001.
Ken had a daughter with his first wife Myra Moir, Thelma Gladys Clifton was born Albany 19 June 1934.
Myra Thelma Clifton is first cousin to brothers WX9339 George Moir and WX9338 Lloyd Owen Moir and another cousin WX9337 Andrew Donald Moir who was KIA 8 February 1942 on West coast of Singapore.
Camp Locations:
- Changi Gaol Camp - Singapore
- Kranji Camp Woodlands - Singapore
- Pulau Blakang Mat - Singapore ***
- River Valley Road Camp - Singapore
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
