Born in Copeland in July 1893, Clifton was the seventh son of James Renwick Laurie and Jessie Maria (nee Farley), of Maudville, Upper Gloucester River near Stroud, New South Wales.
The 13th Battalion AIF was raised from late September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak of the First World War. The battalion was recruited in New South Wales, and with the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions formed the 4th Brigade, commanded by Colonel John Monash. Listed as a grazier, Clifton enlisted on the 26th of September 1914 and served with the 13th Infantry Battalion.
Cliff embarked for the Middle East aboard the ‘HMAT A38 Ulysses’ from Melbourne with the Brigade on the 22nd of December 1915. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, it proceeded to Egypt, arriving in early February 1915. Australia already had an AIF division there, the 1st. When the 4th Brigade arrived in Egypt it became part of the New Zealand and Australian Division.
The 4th Brigade landed at ANZAC Cove late in the afternoon of 25th of April 1915. On the 2nd of May Clifton received a gunshot wound to the chest and was evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsular aboard the HMAT Boonah to the 17th General Hospital at Alexandria, Egypt. On the 5th of May just 3 days after he was wounded a telegram was delivered to his father at Macksville advising him of his son’s situation, however on the same day (the 5th), Cliff passed away of those wounds aged just 21 years.
Cliff was buried at the Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial & Cemetery, Grave A 104 with the headstone inscription ‘FAITHFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH’. A parcel with his personal items of the Testaments and a notebook were dispatched to his parents.
