Clifford Andrews

Clifford J Andrews

Leading Aircraftsman/Wireless Operator, Service No 1401808, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 885 Fleet Air Arm Squadron. He was the son of the late Mr & Mrs G Andrews and a keen cricketer coming from a cricketing family Clifford, prior to joining the R.A.F. was a clerk for his uncle Mr Arthur Andrews, High St., Midsomer Norton.

He lost his life age 23 years whilst a passenger in an American aircraft which crashed as the result of enemy action on 23 December 1944.

He is buried in Belgrade War Cemetery, plot 6, Row A, Grave 1.

Cliff was born on 13/10/21.

Like his brother Bob, he attended MSN Primary School in the High Street & then went to Welton Council School on Radstock Road. This took students through to 14yrs of age. He passed the entrance exams & went to Norton Hill & stayed there for a year or so.

Family finances meant that both Cliff & Bob had to leave school & Cliff became a carpenter for the family firm initially. However, his Uncle Arthur wanted someone to become involved in the heart of the business & Cliff went to work as a clerk in the office instead. The family business had been at the end of Rackvernal Road but in c1938 Arthur moved to an empty, former council yard up the side alley towards South Road from MSN High Street, so that is where Cliff found himself too.

Like others in the family he was a cricketer.