Pictured right: Clifford, at Veterans Memorial Lodge.
Clifford was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on September 23, 1930. He began working at the young age of 15. His various jobs included working for an oyster company, on a crab boat, digging ditches and then on to Merritt to work at a saw mill for 2 years. In February of 1949, Cliff joined the Navy. He has numerous photos displayed in his room at Veterans Memorial Lodge of these early days including a large picture of the HMCS Athabaskan. Cliff has numerous incredible memories from this time in the Navy.
One story that stands out was when he was in North Korean waters. Cliff remembers being on duty on the Yellow Sea. They were there to pick up a downed pilot in the Yalu River. Cliff was in the Operations Room. Their ship was being shot at by the North Koreans. He specifically remembers with everything going on, knowing there was nothing they could do and he was not scared. You see, the ship could not turn around because the mouth of the Yalu River was too narrow. Cliff could hear the underwater explosions and the guys that report them. So when they picked up the downed pilot it was full speed astern to get out of there. Cliff recalls they didn’t get hit but they had explosions on both sides and in front of them.
*In August 2022, with family by his side, Clifford passed away. Like all Canadian veterans, Clifford gave up so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. It was our honour to support Clifford while he lived with Broadmead Care, and to continue to support his fellow veterans who live with us now
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