De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol 4 page 46
Clifford was born on the 7th June 1896 at Merthyr Tydvil, Co Glamorgan, the eldest son of Harry Dewdney, B.A. of Kekewich, Liskeard, Co, Cornwall and his wife Margaret Winifred, daughter of John French Williams.
Clifford was educated at the Plymouth College and Bromsgrove School at Worcester.
He married Dorothy Mildred Agnes, the elder daughter of Charles Robert Garvey, on the 4th March 1918, at Christ Church, Sunderland. They resided at 14 Thornhill Gardens, Sunderland.
Clifford obtained a commission and was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant in the Gloucester Regiment on the 29th September 1915. Then promoted to Lieutenant 16th December 1916. He served in France and Flanders from the 30th January 1916. Assistant Adjutant 20th February 1917 and Captain 15th April 1917.
Clifford took part in the first battle of the Somme and was wounded at Guillemont on [Sunday] 20th August 1916.
This was from a bombing attack in the trench North East of the Nab by 1/6th Gloucester's (144 Brigade) and continued throughout the day with no real result.
He was killed in action at Hangard Wood near Villers Bretonneux on the 4th April 1918.
A brother officer wrote: "It was at Hangard Wood, near Villers Bretonneux, and his sacrifice practically saved our line from going completely."
An extract from the 'The Court Journal Roll of Honour' (Special Addition) dated the 26th April 1918 says: "He was holding off a German rush, and had sent a message to his Colonel saying he was afraid the enemy were too numerous for him, when he was hit, and his last words were : 'Tell the Colonel I have done my best'.
He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with star by the French authorities (London Gazette, 18th April, 1918) for exceptional services on the Flanders Front on October 1917; and was mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette, 23rd May, 1918) by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
He is remembered at Sunderland on S140.005 in S140.048 Part 9, page 184 and S140.82
