Harry Clifford's Story.
He was born 24 October 1891 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, the eldest of 4 children to John Thomas and Alice Ruth Burgess (nee Street). His father was a warehouseman/ boot salesman and later a commercial traveller in the boot and leather industry.
His siblings were Wilfrid, born 29 November 1893 in Toxteth; Kenneth, born 2 May 1901 in Poulton cum Seacombe, Wallasey; Marion Ruth Evelyn, born 24 March in Wallasey.
The family lived at 83 Buchanan Road, Wallasey and later at 72 Deveraux Drive.
Harry was a member of St Paul’s Church choir in Seacombe, Wallasey and played the piano very well. He sang with the St Paul’s Musical Society. He belonged to the Seacombe and Egremont Swimming Club, winning awards. He would swim the River Mersey between the Seacombe, Egremont and New Brighton piers.
In March 1911, his mother died.
He worked as a clerk in Liverpool at Appleby’s, the flour millers until enlisting in the Liverpool Pals.
He joined the 18th Battalion, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment).
The 18th battalion Kings Liverpool Regiment were formed in Liverpool on 29 August 1914 by Lord Derby. 30 April 1915 they came under the orders of the 89th Brigade. Completing training at Larkhill Camp, Salisbury, the battalion was mobilised 3 November 1915. The first detachment leaving Larkhill by train for Southampton on the 6 November. At 8.40am the following morning the remainder of the battalion left Larkhill for Folkstone and embarked on the S.S. “Invicta” arriving in Boulogne at 4.30pm on 7 November 1915. The battalion by Christmas 1915 were serving on the Somme.
Harry's name is mentioned in the battalion war diary, it gives his date of death as 16 January, this is not uncommon as the diaries were often written up days later, so mistakes on dates can be expected. The diary states, 16/1/16 Relieved 2nd Bn. Yorkshire Regiment in the trenches. Shell dropped in No.2. Company trench, 18/16652 Pte. S. Evans and 18/26647 Pte. H.C Burgess being killed.
His Memorial Death Plaque is incorporated in the grave of his brother, Wilfrid at Frankby Cemetery, Wirral (F61), next to their brother, Kenneth. He is remembered at the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall (panel 14, right), at the Wallasey Civic Memorial in the hospital in Mill Lane and also at St Paul’s Church.
The Cheshire Roll of Honour would like to thank Rosemary Warburton, Harry's niece for this this information.