Maybe it was a deeply personal defence against memories too harrowing to dwell upon, but, like most casualties of war, William Clift could never bring himself to talk much about his ordeal in the Far East. Or why he got the Military Medal His widow, Elsie, recalls how eagerly he spoke about the shared jokes, the times when the servicemen shared a common bond of laughter. But not of other things. When Bill, who died in 1982 aged only 62, returned from the war he and his bride were married and set up home in Westhoughton, where she still lives in Cedar Avenue. Bill had been a super-fit PE instructor with the Royal Artillery, a man with a perfect physique - but Elsie noticed curious ridges in the skin on his back and asked about them. Reluctantly, he gave a quick explanation: During a brief period as a prisoner of the Japanese, his captors had wired him to a tree and each morning would tighten the wires one degree more. A comrade had been wired to a tree with the wire through his tongue and around his hands so that any movement was excruciating and threatened to rip his tongue out. Bill said little enough, but never would he buy any product made in Japan.
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Jungle fight Sgt Clift fought beside the Gurkhas and the Chindits and was flown by glider behind enemy lines his pilot was Jackie Coogan, American child star and later film and TV performer. Bill was awarded the Military Medal “for bravery in the field” after a spell in the thick of the jungle fighting when a Jap Lt Col Kolboshi was firing a light machine gun into troops. Bill kicked him out of the gun emplacement and the Japanese lunged at the British soldier with his sword. The blow was deflected by Bill’s bayonet and he went on to relieve the Japanese soldier of his weapon thus winning a 200 rupee prize from General Wingate who had promised the sum to the first man to capture a Japanese sword. But the skirmish left Bill knocked senseless by a grenade. The sword is now in the proud possession of Bill and Elsie’s grandson. His Captain, “Lofty” Howard later described Bill as a man who could be “relied on to the utmost” and a man possessed of “a sense of humour that was a prime factor of your very existence” Bill’s fitness took him through the torture after he was captured in Rangoon and enabled him to escape by swimming several miles to freedom, but jungle life took its toll on his health. Notwithstanding, he was in action on the Burma Road and elsewhere in the region, the only one of a whole detachment to survive one skirmish. In Civvy Street , he became a colliery manager and training officer for the NCB, but suffered badly with malaria throughout his life. His death from emphysema was difficult and painful and his former captain wrote to his widow expressing grief at the hard last hurdle Bill had faced: “He did not deserve it — you lost a man, Elsie, a real man.” But Elsie knew that. Courtesy of the Leigh Atherton and Tyldesley Journal 1995 |
Won Wingate's Award Since joining the Forces Sgt. William Clift R.A. of Car Bank Square, Atherton, has had many exciting experiences. He was captured by the Japanese at rangoon early in 1942, but escaped by swimming several miles. He got to India and was in the activities on the Burma Road. Here in one skirmish he was the only one of the detatchment of 92 to get back safely. He was taken by plane to Chung King and from there has resumed operations against the Japanese. He has written to his mother that General Wingate under whom he is serving, offered 200 rupees to the first man to capture a Japanese officers sword. Sgt. Clift won the money and still has the sword. He writes: "A Japanese officer was firing at us with a light machine gun from behind a pagoda. I was lucky enough to get close without being hit, and I kicked him out of it. He got up and tried to cut me up with his sword, he took a swipe but it bounced off my bayonet, so I slit his body then hit him with the butt. He stayed dead, but his pal threw a grenade at me and knocked me stupid. I think I can safely say 'I will be in Bent this christmas.' God knows I've seen enough of these slit eyed beasts out here, but they look better dead than alive." Sgt. Clift attended Lee St. and Hesketh Fletcher schools and was formerly employed by St Georges Pit, Tyldesley. In the army he has won several cups for boxing and swimming. His younger brother James is a first class stoker in the Navy. Courtesy of the Leigh Atherton and Tyldesley Journal 1944 |
