Item HT 29955 Certificate of Appreciation - Shire of Coreen, Awarded to Trooper Rupert Edward Clifton, World War I, 21 Dec 1918

Summary

Certificate of Appreciation from the Shire of Coreen (now the Corowa Shire), NSW, presented to Trooper Rupert Edward Clifton of the 8th Light Horse Regiment on December 21, 1918, in recognition of his service in World War I.

The certificate has been decorated with the flags of five different countries depicted as shields with the Union Jack in the centre. The floral emblems of Scotland, Ireland and England (the thistle, shamrock and rose) and icons of war (such as helmets and weapons) also form a part of the decoration. In the bottom left corner of the certificate is a print of a woman, with her back to the viewer, dressed in a white and wearing a coronet. The woman also wears an Australian flag attached to her shoulders like a cape (canton not shown) and is shown on her knees presenting what appears to be a eucalyptus branch on a red cushion.

Also framed with the certificate is an inset with a black and white photograph of a uniformed soldier, presumably Trooper Rupert Edward Clifton, in top left corner. Also shown is a window mounted dog tag in centre and two medals (the British War Medal, 1914-1920 and the Victory Medal 1919) in the top right corner.

Trooper Rupert Edward Clifton was born on 27 September 1898 and was the eldest son of Arthur William and Emily Clifton of Lowesdale, NSW. Clifton enlisted on 12 December 1917 when he was nineteen years old and subsequently sailed for Suez on the HMAT Port Darwin. Upon his arrival in September 1918, Clifton was taken on strength as part of the 8th Light Horse Regiment. Trooper Clifton served with the 8th Light Horse Regiment in the Middle East. However, Clifton was frequently hospitalised for various ailments, including mumps and malaria, before he returned to Australia on 3 July 1919. Clifton was officially discharged on 14 December 1919.

After the war Clifton lived in South Melbourne and found employment with the North Melbourne Railway yards. When Clifton was 22 years old fell 25 ft. to his death whilst at the railway yards on 5 October 1920. The death was ruled accidental and was reported in an article published in 'The Argus' on 15 October 1920. His family placed an obituary in the same paper on 7 October 1920 where he is described as a 'beloved eldest son' and 'loved brother.'

Physical Description

Framed and glazed certificate mounted in beige with a plain wooden frame. The certificate has been decorated with the flags of five different countries depicted as shields. The floral emblems of Scotland, Ireland and Englad and icons of war (such as helmets and weapons) also form a part of the decoration. In the bottom left corner of the certificate is a print of a woman, with her back to the viewer, dressed in a white and wearing a coronet. The woman also wears an Australian flag attached to her shoulders like a cape (canton not shown) and is shown on her knees presenting what appears to be a eucalyptus branch on a red cushion. Also framed with the certificate is an inset with a black and white photograph of soldier in uniform in top left corner. Also shown is a window mounted dog tag in centre and two medals in the top right corner.