ASHBURNER, Clifford William Ernest MiD

Clifford William Ernest Ashburner MiD

9^th Light Horse Regiment, AIF

4^th Brigade Machine Gun Squadron, AIF

12th Garrison Battalion

Headquarters British Commonwealth Occupation Force

by Robert Simpson

Clifford was born on 6^th September 1889 in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. (One source has Clifford Arundell William (no Ernest) and another has Connell as the second name, but those middle names are not confirmed elsewhere, and his service papers state he was born in July 1889.). He also has a brother and sister that are known of. His parents were Ernest Ashburner and Dorothy Adelaide August Bean. Ernest was born in India but married Dorothy in South Africa in 1883 (his second wife). Ernest’s parents, William and Mary had married in India in 1845, but had shifted to South Africa with the family before they passed away. Clifford comes from an extremely military orientated family. Ernest had risen to the rank of Captain by the Boer War and formed his own unit, Ashburner’s Light Horse which was raised at Kimberley 23^rd January 1901 and disbanded there on 5^th April 1902. He later rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General. He also owned an ostrich farm in South Africa which apparently, he retired to. Ernest’s father William rose to the rank of Lieutenant-General in the Indian Army and Major-General in South Africa. William’s father, William Page Ashburner was born in India and was the mayor of Bombay at some time, but travelled between Hobart, Australia and England later on in life. He must have had something to do with the civil service in India and he had the letters C.S.I. after his name. William Page also had some of his other sons who rose quite high in the ranks. Not much is known of his early life except his mother died on 7^th May 1911. His father married again in 1915. His Demobilisation Procedure Book after World War 2 describes his education record as being 4 years at Vryburg State School in South Africa where he reached 6^th Grade and 4 years at Marist Brothers College, Utinage, South Africa where he did a Vet. Course and matriculated.

Whether it was by his father’s influence or not, he joined the Driscoll’s Scouts during the Boer War when he was only 12 as Private 1261. He was entitled to the Orange Free State, Transvaal and 1902 clasp on the Queens South Africa medal. He was not entitled to the King’s South Africa medal. He would have not seen much action, but Driscoll’s Scouts were involved in the final great drives in the Western Transvaal. His certificate of discharge reads 1261 Trooper C. W. E. Ashburner of Driscoll’s Scouts attested at Blomfontein on 15^th May 1902 at the age of 17 years and he was born in Bombay India. (The last two are not right). He was discharged as a consequence of the corps disbanding and his character was very good. He served for 47 days and his discharge was signed at Blomfontein on 30^th June 1902. His description was age 17, height 5 foot, fair complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, his trade was a farmer and he intended to live in Mafeking. Apparently, he also served with the British South African Mounted Police during the war and latterly spent 2 years with the Kimberley Regiment, though there are no documents to confirm this.

Again, after the war not much is known about his life, but he must have married Elizabeth Christina Wiehahn at some time in South Africa. A couple of incomplete documents state he worked for Village Deep Limited in 1909 and possibly 1910 and he had a blasting certificate. Due to some of the documents being missing it is hard to know what he did there and for how long. There is a certificate of service from De Beers Consolidated Mines which says Clifford Arundell Wm Ashburner worked there from 1^st March 1912 to 28^th November 1913 as a guard at Dutoitspan Mine and Bultfoetein Floor compounds and he had resigned. His duties were performed satisfactorily. The family then migrated to South Australia where they were found in 1914 at 41Mazeburg Place Kensington. No records indicate when they shifted. They had four children, 3 girls and one boy. There are no details on two of the girls; the boy, Ernest Clifford, was born in South Australia in 1913 and died of influenza in 1918 in South Africa during the epidemic. The other girl, Alice Lily Mabel was born in 1923 in South Africa. Elizabeth had obviously moved back with the family to South Africa during WW1 for some reason and she stayed there after the war, until she could gain passage back to Australia. Whether she came back or not is not confirmed either.

On 19^th October 1914, Clifford attested with the 9^th Light Horse Regiment in the Machine Gun Section as Private 38 at Morphettville, South Australia. His occupation was a pugilist with his address listed as 41 Maxeburg Place, Kensington, South Australia. He gave his religion as Church of England and his pay was 15 shillings a day. Mrs. Elizabeth Christiana Ashburner of the same address was noted as his next of kin. His age was stated as 25 years and 3 months. Previous military service was Driscoll’s Scouts (Boer War) for 7 months, 7 years 65 days with British South African Mounted Police and 2 years with Kimberley Regiments South Africa. His description also included height 5 foot 11.5 inches, weight 160 pounds, chest measurement 35.5 inches, fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1^st December 1914 and to Corporal on 1^st January 1915.

The regiment left Melbourne on HMAT Karroo A10 on 11^th January 1915 with Clifford now a Corporal in the 9^th Light Horse Regiment Machine Gun Section. They arrived at Gallipoli on 16^th May 1915. It seems that Clifford was heavily involved with the machine gun section and was called on to do the training and gun laying work by his Officer Commanding. He was involved with the battle at the Nek. He was positioned behind the Australian trenches and to the left at Turk’s Point. During the charge, he brought his guns into action without orders, firing at the Turkish trenches. From his position, he could see the charge and what was happening. Major Reynell ordered him to stop firing after the third wave had gone, sending a note saying “Aren’t you firing on our own men”? Those in command had been told of seeing a flag in the Turkish trenches, which was not true. He later described the attack as he saw it; “The first and 2nd lines went out running-charging. The third line bent, with rifles on guard, walking. When they got as far as the knoll they turned, and those who could get back to the trenches did so. Then a long time before the last lot.” He could see the dead and dying in no-man’s land, the scaling ladders dropped by the first wave, wounded men raising their arms and trying to drink out of their bottles but within a few hours all movement had stopped. His two machine guns were the only cover the men had when they charged, by enfilading the Turkish trenches, and before being ordered to stop they had expended over 10 000 rounds. After the war, when Charles Bean was writing the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, he must have interviewed Clifford as he makes reference to him in it.

Clifford was again promoted to Sergeant on 9^th June 1915. During a Turkish counterattack on 29^th and 30^th of June, at 2 a.m. some of the Turks who had been lying in the scrub charged the machine gun position at Turk’s Point. One soldier was bayoneted and as the Turks were attempting to seize one of the guns, Clifford shot the closest one with his rifle and then turned the machine gun on them, causing the rest to flee. The Australians captured 50 rifles from the Turks after they fled.

He was Mentioned in Despatches on 26^th August 1915 from General Sir Ian Hamilton that was published in the London Gazette page 11002, position 22 on 5^th November 1915 as Sergeant 38 in the 9^th (Australian) Light Horse Regiment. A letter was sent to his wife on 6^th April 1916 detailing this.

After the disastrous attack on Hill 60 in August, the 9^th Light Horse only played a defensive roll at Gallipoli until they left in December. Back in Egypt, they were involved in the defence of the Suez Canal.

It would seem that Clifford was rising up the military ladder, but he was about to come crashing down. While in Egypt he was sent to the 3^rd Training Regiment and he was also admonished in June. He was to face a court martial while in the 9^th Light Horse Regiment in Palestine. On 3^rd August 1916 he was reduced to the ranks and awarded 6 months Imprisonment with Hard Labour due to – “stealing goods the property of a comrade, that he on or about February 1916 stole a pair of binoculars the property of 249 L/Cpl Driscoll L.S. Machine G. Sect. 9^th L. H. Regt. Alternative charge – (not proceeded with) Receiving, knowing them to be stolen goods, the property of a comrade, in that he on or about February 1916 was in possession of a pair of binoculars the property of L/Cpl L. S. Driscoll M. G. S. 9^th L. H. Regt. Confirmed by Brig. Gen. 3^rd L. H. Brigade”(J M Antill). On 4^th September 1916, the sentence was suspended by order of Commander in Chief and he was to be released and sent back to his unit. What brought about this change is not known. Driscoll was to become a Lieutenant later on while Clifford stayed with the ranks.

On 1^st October 1916, he was taken on strength, ex 9^th Light Horse Details to 3^rd Training Regiment and on 21^st November he was taken on strength of Provost Corps and he was then transferred to 9^th Light Horse Regiment on 10^th December. He was attached to Headquarters Anzac Training Centre and Details Camp on 18^th January 1917. As a Trooper, he was then transferred to 3^rd Training Regiment on 13^th February. On 25^th July 1917, he was taken on strength of 4^th Machine Gun Squad and transferred to 4^th Light Horse Training Regiment. On 4^th August 1917, he was transferred to 4^th Brigade Machine Gun Squadron.

His military service was further darkened when on 26^th September 1917 he was charged with an offence as a Trooper as “Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he on the morning of Sept. 20^th 1917 created a disturbance in the Squadron lines.” He was awarded 6 days’ field punishment number 2 and forfeited 6 days pay for his trouble. In December 1917, he was sent to hospital with diarrhoea which seemed to plague him until late February 1918. He returned to the Machine Gun Squadron but was again in hospital in August 1918 with diarrhoea and was also admitted to hospital from September to December.

There is also another record of a court martial held on 7^th August 1918 whilst he was in the 4^th Australian Machine Gun Squadron. On 26^th February 1919, he was again punished for creating a disturbance in the squadron lines and assaulting a mess orderly in the execution of his duty for which he received 28 days’ field punishment No. 2. It looks like this also stopped him going home on compassionate leave.

He returned to Australia as part of the 4^th Machine Gun Squad on 7^th April 1919 from Suez on HT City of Poona and disembarked on 14^th May at Sydney. On 1^st September 1919, he was discharged from the army. His discharge certificate reads: – Trooper 38 Clifford William Ernest Ashburner, 4^th Machine Gun Squadron, born in Port Elizabeth South Africa, attested at Morphettville South Australia on 19^th October 1914 in the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Forces at 29 years old was discharged due to medical unfitness (not due to misconduct). He served for 4 years and 319 days including 4 years and 97 days abroad. The Distinguished Conduct Medal is listed. The Returned Soldier’s Badge 100597 was issued and he was discharged on 1^st September 1919. He received a greatcoat and civilian suit and cap and he was entitled and issued with 5 blue chevrons. It also mentions “City of Poona” presumably as the ship he returned on. His description is noted as 34 years, height 6 foot 1 inch, medium complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He listed his trade as an athletic instructor and he intended to live at 29 Frederick St Ashfield, New South Wales.

There is a series of correspondence to the Department of Repatriation between 1919 and 1921 about payment for his wife and family for them to return back to Australia. Sometime during the war, they must have moved back to South Africa. It begins with a letter from the Defence Department to the Department of Repatriation stating a letter from Mrs E C Ashburner, saying that some time ago she had applied for her free passage ticket and was still waiting for it. It also says she did not want to return to Australia until after Clifford had arrived. There is also an application form filled out by Clifford on 14^th July 1919 in Sydney but it only lists his wife. Free passage was approved on 30^th July and it was asked that South African authorities be informed of this on the 13^th August. On 9^th February 1920 Clifford wrote to the Australian Prime Minister telling him his problem with getting his wife back and asking if he could help. It was passed on to the Repatriation Department who replied stating the previous approval of the passage in July 1919. Another telegram was sent to South Africa to expedite the passage. There was then a series of letters covering the payment of the passage in late 1920.

His address on 11^th November 1920 was Farm 368 Springbrook Dairy, Yenda, Victoria as on a letter about his 15 Star and why he had not got it when others had. He only had the oak leaves for his Mention in Despatch. A reply stated that the medals were not yet available and he could also apply for the nearest female relative badge also with the enclosed form.

On 21^st December 1920, he again writes to Mr Hughes, the Prime Minister asking about cashing in his war bonds as he has a house but no money to furnish it for him and his wife and child. A letter in reply stated that the letter has been forwarded to the appropriate department. A letter dated 18^th April 1921 is asking for reimbursement for payment of the passage of Mrs E C Ashburner on London Voucher 1760 for 19 pounds 10 shillings. There is further correspondence on that payment. Whether or not she and the family moved back to Australia is debatable as there is no mention of them in Australia and their last child was born in South Africa in 1923.

On 28^th September 1922, he writes about returning the receipt of the 15 Star and stating his address after returning from South Africa to Yenda. Elizabeth and the family did not return with him it would appear. In 1923, he married Eily Mary Coghlan (possibly as no record has been found). In the 1909 and 1914 Electoral Rolls she was listed as living in Ballarat, 24 Errard St North and an occupation of home duties. She had been previously married to Albert Edwin Cother. Albert had been born in Carlton Melbourne in 1881 and had enlisted as Driver 2984 in the 5^th Field Company of Australian Engineers on 12^th July 1915. They must have married sometime after that (as his attestation records states he was single) and before he departed in November 1915. He returned to Australia on 8^th September 1919 as a Sergeant and he had been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Clifford was listed in the 1924 Supplemental Electoral Roll interestingly with Elizabeth and not Eily at 106 Queensbury St, Carlton with his occupation as a special constable.

On 23^rd August 1925 their only daughter, Rosemary Kathleen was born in Melbourne.

By the 1936 Electoral Roll they were living at a property called Myrnyong at Yarragong, Gippsland and he was listed as a farm manager. His daughter remembers at some time he had cattle, so this is possibly the time. Also at some stage he was working as a Vet in country Victoria, which is confirmed with what he studied in South Africa as in his Demobilisation book. In the 1937 roll they had shifted to 553 Beach Rd, Mordialloc in Flinders, Victoria and he was a saddler. He was obviously concerned with what was happening in Germany at this time and he wrote to the War Office in London. Their reply on 6^th October 1937 thanked him for his “interest in the defence of the Empire I am to say that whilst fully appreciating the spirit of your suggestion to raise a unit in Australia for service in Palestine or elsewhere, this Department is unable to accept the offer of your services, as it is considered that for various reasons the formation of such a unit is impracticable within the framework of British Military Forces.” It is signed the Director of Recruiting and Organisation. Clifford’s address is given as Kia Ora Café, 533 Beach Rd Mordialloc. It would be interesting to know what the original letter stated and how he wanted to be involved. On 1^st July 1939, his father Ernest died in Durban, South Africa.

Clifford enlisted on 6^th October 1939 as V80914 Private in the army and was discharged on 8^th July 1940 from 12^th Garrison Battalion. His certificate of discharge states he left the Australian Military Forces as he had enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, and he was described as being 51 years old, 5 foot 11.5 inches tall dark hair and complexion and hazel eyes. Saddler was listed as his trade. He enlisted on 9^th July 1940 at Tocumwal, New South Wales as Private VX42085 in the 15^th Training Battalion AIF and was discharged on 12^th August 1940 as Officer Commanding 15 I T Battalion. He was discharged on consequence of enlisting in the 17^th Garrison Battalion in which he must have served for the rest of the war. The discharge states his age as 41 years and 11 months, height 6 foot, dark hair and complexion and hazel eyes. He had a shrapnel scar on the back of his neck and his trade was a saddler. In both cases, he is listed as being born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 6^th September, but the first one has 1889 and the other 1898 which is obviously an error. Both have next of kin as Eily. The second record also misses the middle name of Ernest in it. There is another record with a service number of VX129276 which has his full name but next of kin is Eileen? He joined in Melbourne. This was his records while with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan. Without looking at the records it is unknown why these errors have occurred as they have not been accessed yet.

A reference dated 4^th December 1940 from Coghlan Boase Pty. Ltd. reads: “To whom it may concern/ This is to certify we have known Mr. C.W. Ashburner, now of 5^th Works and Parks Coy, 2^nd Military P.O. Rokeby, for several years. Our knowledge of him is, that he is a hard working, steady and honest man and feel sure he would carry out any duties entrusted to him in a very satisfactory manner.” Another reference dated 3^rd December 1940 from the Shire of Berrigan states “I have known Mr Cliff Ashburner as a business man and a personal friend for the last six years. During that period I found him to be a capable businessman, scrupulously honest, and of temperate habits. I can confidently recommend him for any position of trust.” It is signed V G Groutsch President. A third reference from H G Chauvel (General) dated 26^th February 1940 in Melbourne reads “This is to certify that I have known Mr. C W Ashburner for many years and have always known him to be reliable. He has had much Military experience, having served in the South African War and the late War. After a refresher course, he would be suitable for Instructional work.”

On 1^st September 1941, a telegram is sent to Base Records in Canberra requesting a verification of his entitlement to DCM, 15 Star and whether Mentioned in Despatches. A reply on the 2^nd confirmed the latter two, but no DCM.

After leaving school, his daughter Rosemary worked in the Taxation Office. When she turned 18 she joined the Australian Women’s Army Service at Albert Park, Melbourne as VF513795 on 14^th September 1943 and was discharged on 13^th May 1947 as a Corporal. She apparently had something to do with intelligence and may have been involved with Japanese prisoners of war. After the war, she entered the Sisters of Mercy Order at the age of 24.

Rosemary’s medals.

His Demobilisation Procedure Book dated 3^rd October 1945 has him entered as Staff Sergeant V5346 (although the front page has that crossed out and VX129276 written in) with a home address of 72 Victoria Ave. Albert Park and the unit of LHQ (CGS) There are various entries with the date stamp in January 1947. His pre-enlistment occupation was written as draper and saddler, his own business of 20 years. He was listed as medical class B2 and was married.

His Certificate of Discharge reads VX129276 Staff Sergeant Clifford William Ernest Ashburner D.C.M., H.Q. British Commonwealth Occupation Forces served on continuous full time war service in the Citizens Military Forces from 15^th August 1940 to 21^st January 1946 and Australian Imperial Force from 22^nd January 1946 to 14^th January 1947. He served for 2344 days including active service in Australia of 1485 days and outside Australia for 252 days. He did not receive any decorations or awards nor was he entitled to the War Badge. He was discharged from the AIF on 14^th January 1947 at Royal Park 3^rd M. D. His description on discharge was height 6 feet, hazel eyes, dark complexion, brown hair and a scar on the back of the neck.

Another letter is sent on 6^th March 1946 asking for confirmation of an award of the DCM to him. The reply also stated that there is no record held by this Office in relation to Clifford have been recommended or awarded any decoration, but it does note his MiD.

On 14^th May 1952 a letter was sent from the Corps of Commissionaires (Victoria) Limited to Army Headquarters in Melbourne regarding the records of Clifford who was a Commissionaire at that time regarding his entitlement to the DCM. It also questioned how many time he had been Mentioned in Despatches as it stated “he received three Oak Leaves with his parchment certificate”. The letter states that he lost the DCM and his rank of Sergeant by Court Martial and as it was by summary award it did not affect his DCM. A letter was sent to Canberra on the 15^th to Base Records to ascertain answers to those questions. A reply dated the 20^th stated that they had no records of a DCM being awarded and he was only entitled to one Mention.

Another letter on 30^th September 1952 from the Secretary of the Corps discussed that he had seen Clifford’s discharge certificate and it notes the DCM on it amongst other items. It follows with “I have interviewed Commissionaire Ashburner, who states that he was awarded the decoration while with the 9^th Light Horse on Gallipoli in 1915, at the time when the 8^th Light Horse was badly cut up at the Nek on 7^th August. He was invested with the medal by General Allenby in Palestine in 1917, General Chauvel being amongst those present at the ceremony”. He asked for further research to clear up the matter. There is no more correspondence in his service files until 7^th June 1960 where a reply to the Australian Army Staff in London states a careful search of records had shown no trace of an award of the DCM to C. W. E. Ashburner and this was forwarded on to the Army Office in Melbourne. A reply dated 8^th October reiterated the original reply with extra searching not changing the answer.

The 1949 Electoral Roll had them listed at 72 Victoria Ave. South Melbourne with his occupation as a soldier. By 1954 they had moved to Mt. Slide Rd, Kingslake and he was a watchman. Eily passed away on 8^th May 1960 at Healesville Victoria. In 1960 Clifford remarried to Christina Victoria Meldrum who was 70 years old at the time. She did not live much longer and died in 1962. The 1963 Electoral Roll shows him at the same place and with the same job. Later in life he converted to the Catholic faith, through the influence of Rosemary.

Another couple of letters, this time from the War Office in London and Australian Army Staff in London to Base Records in Melbourne again state there is no record of a Distinguished Conduct Medal being awarded to Clifford.

He passed away on 25^th June 1966 of bronchopneumonia and cerebrovascular accident at the Repatriation General Hospital at Heidelberg, Melbourne where he had been a patient. His grave has the following epitaph: –

In loving memory of

Clifford W Ashburner

Who died 25^th June 1966

Late Boer War A.I.F. 1914-1918

A.I.F. 1939-45

R.I.P.

My Father

His daughter Rosemary wrote to the Army Records Office on 16^th October 1967 and their reply on the 30^th stated that they have searched the records for an award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Clifford but no trace was found. They note he was Mentioned in Despatches one time and he was entitled to the Anzac Commemorative Medallion for which they enclosed a form to fill out. She certainly thought he was entitled to it and she stated in the letter she had his discharge certificates from the Boer War, the Great War and World War II. She also states “As your records show he had a colourful career beginning with the Boer War at the age of twelve, in which case his age was “put up” for the occasion of his enlistment, to seventeen”. She wanted to find out also the wording that accompanied his DCM. She also said she was an ex service person and was anxious to receive the above-mentioned medals. She signed the letter Sister M Ambrose and underneath (Rosemary Ashburner). She forwarded the application form back on 19^th November with a letter but no mention of the DCM. Her address was P.O. Box 518 Convent of Mercy, Albury N.S.W. 2640.

Some documents in his file state no trace of Boer War records or of having enlisted in Australia for the Boer War, which is correct, he did not enlist in Australia, and his records would be in South Africa. For some reason his WW1 service records originally have his trio of medals crosses out with stamped lines, a red pencil and a stamp stating “not eligible war medals” by some Army Act, only to see another stamp stating “War Medals restored by the provisions of Army Order” in late 1920 and the next page has his trio and Mention in Despatch issued. Why they were originally cancelled is not known, but this explains why he was late in getting them.

His medals are Queens South Africa medal with Orange Free State, Transvaal and South Africa 1902 clasps, 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals with MiD emblem, 1939-45 War Medal, Australian Service Medal and the Australian Service Medal 1945-75 with Japan Clasp.

The museum has his last three medals, and also his discharge parchments.

A lot of questions still need to be answered. Finding his birth certificate would confirm a few things. More details could be found in his WW2 and court martial records if they were accessible. There are questions on his original court martial, why would he do it and why and how did he get out of imprisonment so quickly and easily? What happened to the DCM award, there is no recorded evidence apart from his discharge, yet he was very adamant he should still have it? It is documented in many letters, yet nothing is found by anyone. What roll do Allenby and Chauvel play? Chauvel wrote a reference for him, so he obviously respected him. Are there documents they wrote which answer these questions? Bean makes mention of him in his history so he took note of what he said. Why were his service medals originally cancelled and then reinstated? Maybe sometime these questions will be answered to give the fuller story of Clifford Ashburner’s life.