Lives of the First World War

Baptised as Walter Clifford Peake, he was always known by the family as Clifford. He was the second youngest of 13 children of James Ashman Peake, brewer and publican of the Lamb Inn at Clandown, Somerset, and his wife Sarah. By the age of 19 he was an apprentice engine fitter living with his parents at Clandown, but later that year he enlisted in the Royal Artillery at Bath. Records at the National Archive show that he was discharged after only 59 days "not being likely to become an efficient soldier". Ten years later he was lodging with a family at Westfield Road, Southsea, Hampshire, and was described as a blacksmith's striker, working for a public works contractor. After moving to Bristol, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 10 August 1914, his name being given as Clifford Walter. He was then posted to Portsmouth, promoted to able seaman, and on 15 December 1914 joined the armed merchant cruiser HMS Bayano. His ship was torpedoed and sunk off the Clyde on 11 March 1915, with only 27 of the crew of 216 surviving. Clifford is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

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