Clifford Sadlier

Twice wounded, he silenced guns and freed his own battalion.

Clifford William King Sadlier was born in Melbourne on 11 June 1892 and worked as a commercial traveller before enlisting in May 1915. Initially serving with the Australian Army Medical Corps in Egypt, he later joined the 51st Battalion on the Western Front and received a commission in 1917.

During the counterattack at Villers-Bretonneux on 24-25 April 1918, machine guns in a wood blocked his platoon. Although wounded, Lieutenant Sadlier led a bombing party against the positions and captured two guns. When his companions became casualties, he attacked another gun with his revolver, killed its crew and was wounded again. His actions opened the battalion’s flank and earned the Victoria Cross.

Invalided home, Sadlier continued serving veterans as Western Australian state secretary of the returned servicemen’s league. He later worked for the Repatriation Department and retired through ill health. He died in Western Australia in 1964. His medals were subsequently entrusted to St George’s Cathedral, Perth, and later loaned to the Australian War Memorial.

Official Victoria Cross citation

For conspicuous bravery during a counter-attack by his battalion on strong enemy positions. Lt. Sadlier’s platoon, which was on the left of the battalion, had to advance through a wood where a strong enemy machine-gun post caused casualties and prevented the platoon from advancing. Although himself wounded, he at once collected his bombing section, led them against the machine guns, and succeeded in killing the crews and capturing two of the guns. By this time Lt. Sadlier’s party were all casualties, and he alone attacked a third enemy machine gun with his revolver, killing the crew of four and taking the gun. In doing so, he was again wounded. The very gallant conduct of this officer was the means of clearing the flank, and allowing the battalion to move forward, thereby saving a most critical situation. His coolness and utter disregard of danger inspired all.

Third Supplement to The London Gazette of 9 July 1918. 11 July 1918, Numb. 30790, p. 8156