Page 56 - Memorial Groves

PLAQUE NO 88: PLAQUE NO 89: PLAQUE NO 90:

Lt C. M. (Steve) Clifton m.i.d. Lieut. Herbert John (Jack) Lieut. Geoffrey Alan Raphael (1925-334)

(1925-27) Manning (1929-30) 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion

Geoffrey attended Hale School between 1925 and 1934 from West Perth. He
2/16th& 2/27th Battalions 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
Killed in Action: 1945, Aged 32 Killed in Action: was a prefect and took part in rowing, cricket, football and boxing; he was also
12 February 1942, Aged 27. active in debating and drama.
Steve was Jim Clifton's elder brother. He attended
Hale School from 1925 to 1927 and then qualified as a Jack was a member of the Cameron Highlanders After leaving School he eventually joined his father’s firm but continued with his
chartered accountant in 1935. He was a keen yachtsman, Militia Regiment before the war and eventually was great interest in photography.
competed in the King's Prize for rifle shooting and was a commissioned into the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion as a
member of the Australian militia forces before the war. Lieutenant after the outbreak of World War II. Before the war he joined the militia 28th Battalion and was commissioned while
serving with that unit.
In 1940 he enlisted in the Western Australian 2/16th He was posted to Malaya with his unit and fought with
Battalion and served in the Middle Eastern Theatre them from the time the Japanese first landed until they Eventually he joined the 2/4th Machine Gunners and arrived in Singapore
from late 1940 to early 1942. When the unit returned to advanced on Singapore in February. He was killed in on the day the city fell to the Japanese. The next day he was detailed into a
Australia he was one of those who fought and helped turn action from a direct hit by an artillery shell on 12 February, work party by his captors and upon finishing the work he and his men were
back the Japanese forces along the Kokoda Track in New just three days before the surrender. He was 27 years of summarily executed. Geoffrey was 25 years of age.
Guinea during the August and September of 1942, after age.
which he was awarded a Mentioned in Despatches. After the war Geoffrey’s family donated a trophy to the School in his memory.
Placed by the then President of the 2/4th Machine-Gun Initially it was awarded for photography but in latter years it has been awarded
He was then commissioned, transferred to the South Battalion Association, Mr Jack Kyros. to the Hale student who has made the most valuable contribution to the chess
Australian 2/27th Battalion and was killed in action on fraternity in the School – The Geoffrey Raphael Prize for Chess.
Bougainville Island just weeks before the war ended in
August, 1945. He was 32 years of age. Placed by sister, Mrs Audrey van Hattem.

Placed his brother, Mr Doug Clifton (1934-36), assisted
by his daughter, and niece of Jim and Steve, Mrs Mary
Pfister.