C Green Pte W

Joseph Clifford Green was born at Lye in Worcestershire in 1890. He was the son of Isaiah Green, a brickyard labourer, and his wife, Phoebe Ann. The Green family lived in Orchard Lane and then at Dudley Road, Lye.

After leaving school, Clifford (he appears to have been known by his middle name) went to work as a miner. In 1908 he joined the Special Reserve of the Worcestershire Regiment. He must have enjoyed army life as at the end of his three month training period he signed up with the Regulars for seven years. In November 1909 he passed the third-class Army Education Certificate - the standard required to be a Corporal - but before he gained any promotion his father died and he had to seek a discharge in order to support his mother and younger siblings. He left the Army on 29th November, 1910, having served nearly two years in the 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.

In 1911 Clifford was working as a clay miner. At some point, possibly after his marriage to Bertha Bate in 1912, he moved to Highley.

As a former soldier, Clifford probably returned to his regiment at the outbreak of war. This time he was posted to the 4th Battalion and promoted to Corporal. The battalion was sent to Gallipoli, where it landed at Cape Helles on 25th April. Clifford died of wounds on the 19th October, 1915. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial.

Corporal Joseph Clifford Green, 14616 Worcestershire Regiment (formerly 7921 6th Bn. and 11595 3rd Bn.) was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. I can find no record that he received the 1915 Star although he should have qualified for it.