Clifford was born in 1880 at Buxton, Derbyshire and was the son of 409 Sergeant William Henry Perkins who served with the Sherwood Foresters.  He enlisted at age 20 years into the Royal Engineers Corps. 

Clifford, like his father served in the Boer War of 1899-1902 as a signaller and afterwards became Senior Marconi Wireless Operator with the Mercantile Marine.  He served on several ships his last being the SS Welshman which in October 1918 was heading towards Sydney, Nova Scotia.  Sadly Clifford became ill with Pneumonia and after six days he sadly died on 1st October 1918 age 38 years.  On arrival at Nova Scotia he was buried there with full honours.  He is also commemorated on the Roll of Honour in Buxton Town Hall. 

Clifford was awarded  the Mercantile Marine War Medal which along with medals belonging to Clifford’s father, the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony, Kings South Africa Medal with 1901 and 1902 clasps and the British War Medal are all held in the Regimental Museum collection.