Clifford Louis De Fraga

DE FRAGA, Clifford Louis- – – – SPC 1902-1903

DoB:- – 1891, Smeaton, VIC

Father:- – Christopher Francis De Fraga (died 19 May 1902, Creswick)

Mother:– – Mary Jane, nee Marshall (died 1905)

Clifford was a boarder at St Patrick’s from Prahran, along with his three brothers -“ Cecil (1897-1902), Percival (SPC 1897-1902, did not enlist) and Norman (SPC 1899-1902).

Service No:– 824

Rank:– – Private, later Corporal, later Sergeant

Unit:– – 21st Battalion, later 1st Aust Supply Column

Clifford Louis De Fraga enlisted on 18 March 1915, by which time both his parents were deceased and his next of kin was his brother Percival -‘Percy’ De Fraga. Clifford was 24 years and four months old, five feet five and a half inches tall with a fresh complexion, dark brown eyes and dark brown hair. His occupation was tailor, and he was unmarried.

Private De Fraga embarked at Melbourne on the Ulysses on 8 May 1915, and proceeded to Gallipoli around 29 August 1915. He survived the brutal campaign on the Turkish Peninsula, and upon evacuation, proceeded to Alexandria, Egypt where he disembarked late in 1915.

On 1 February 1916, he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in the field in Egypt. By May he was transferred to the 1st Australian Supply Column in France. He was also re-mustered (reverting in rank) as driver. By 7 October 1918, he was again promoted, this time to the rank of Sergeant.

In April 1919, Sergeant De Fraga was granted leave without pay, and allowed to proceed to Southampton from France, to attend the Ministers Cutting Academy, at 46 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1. He completed this tailoring course, and in December 1919 prepared for his return to Australia aboard the Borda.

En route to Australia the Borda embarked at Cape Town, but it seems that Sergeant De Fraga failed to re-embark for the continuation of his journey. The report stated:

-‘-¦[he] failed to return to his ship, at expiry of shore leave, and was illegally AWL -¦ [he] reported to AIF Depot and placed in open arrest at the Castle -¦

Charged -“ 1. Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he failed to be on board his ship, -‘Borda’ at 1700, when she sailed for Australia.

2. Being in S Africa when it was his duty to be elsewhere. Reprimanded by Capt W Thirkell, AIF’.

On 12 January he embarked aboard the Runic which took him safely back to Australia. He was formally discharged from the AIF on 18 April 1920.

Back in Australia, the electoral rolls show that Clifford De Fraga lived in Melbourne, settling in 1931 until his death at 2 Karma Avenue, East Malvern. He married Lorna Adelaide Webb in 1928, and they had three children -“ Christopher Clifford, a welder who died on 20 February 1962 in Queensland, Pamela Amy, and Rodney Cecil who was a cabinet maker.

Clifford died on 3 July 1968, aged 77. He was cremated at Springvale Cemetery, Victoria.