The AIF Project

Clarence Smith JEFFRIES

Date of birth26 October 1894
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationSurveyor
AddressAbermain, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21.6
Height5' 10.5"
Weight136 lbs
Next of kinFather, Joshua Jeffries, General Manager, Abermain Collieries, Abermain, New South Wales
Previous military serviceServed in the 14th (Hunter River) Infantry Regiment, Citizen Military Forces; still serving at time of AIF enlistment.
Enlistment date1 February 1916
Rank on enlistment2nd Lieutenant
Unit name34th Battalion, C Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/51/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A20 Hororata on 2 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollCaptain
Unit from Nominal Roll34th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records23
Place of burialTyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XL, Row E, Grave No.I), Passchendaele, Belgium
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
124
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Joshua and Barbara JEFFRIES, Abermain, New South Wales. Native Wallsend, New South Wales
Medals

Victoria Cross

'For most conspicuous bravery in attack, when his company was held up by enemy machine gun fire from concrete emplacements. Organizing a party, he rushed one emplacement, capturing four machine guns and 35 prisoners. He then led his company forward under extremely heavy enemy artillery barrrage and enfilade machine gun fire to the objective. Later, he again organized a successful attack on a machine gun emplacement, capturing two machine guns and thrity more prisoners. This gallant officer was killed during the attack, but it was entirely due to his bravery and initiative that the centre of the attack was not held up for a lenghty period. His example had a most inspiring influence.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57
Date: 18 April 1918

Other details

War service: Western Front

Medals: Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, JEFFRIES Clarence Smith


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