Career
Clifford served in World War I in the battleships HMS Iron Duke and HMS Colossus and then specialised in navigation. He was appointed Fleet Navigating Officer, for the China Station in 1938. He served in World World War II as Commanding Officer of the destroyers HMS Mackay and HMS Salisbury and then as Naval Assistant Secretary to the War Cabinet from 1941 to 1943.
In the closing stages of the War he commanded the cruiser HMS Diadem.
He went on to command the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in 1949 before becoming Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in 1951 and Flag Officer commanding the 5th Cruiser Squadron and Flag Officer Second in Command Far East Fleet in 1952 in which role he saw action during the Korean War. He was made Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff and a Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty in 1954.
He retired in 1957.
