99 / 128
CITATION:
“ For the most conspicuous bravery in attack, when his
company was held up by enemy machine gun fire from concrete
emplacements. Organizing a party, he rushed one emplacement capturing
four machine guns and thirty five prisoners. He then led his company
forward under extremely heavy enemy artillery barrage and enfilade
machine gun fire to the objective. Later he again organized a successful
attack on a machine gun emplacement, capturing two machine guns and
thirty more prisoners. This gallant officer was killed during the attack, but
it is entirely due to his bravery and initiative that the centre of the attack
was not held up for a lengthy period. His example had a most inspiring
influence.”
Captain Jeffries was wounded in the earlier encounter but bravely led his
troops in the second attack. His desire to defend his own troops and the
ferocity of his counter attack is emphasized by his capture of thirty five
enemy soldiers in the attack.
His willingness to lead by personal example is illustrated by his actions
to eliminate the scourge of the machine gun nest.
The attacks emphasize how important machine guns located on high
ground had become. They had to be eliminated by attacking forces if the
force expected to make any progress.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records Captain Clarence
Smith Jeffries buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery on Broodsiende Ridge near
Passchendaele. He is one of 1368 Australians buried in the cemetery.
Tyne Cot Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth Cemetery.
Further Research
Locate or identify three of the monuments throughout
the Hunter Region where the name of Clarence Jeffries and his
courageous contribution is honoured.
97