Private William Clifford was the first Canadian-born winner of the King’s Prize, which he took in 1911. He also won the Prince of Wales Trophy and the Irish Cup; the first ever to accomplich this feat. He was also the first winner to use a Canadian-made rifle, a Ross 1910.
Private Clifford made the Bisley Team twice and came third in our Grand Aggregate once. At the outbreak of World War I he was a Staff Sergeant and went to England as a Divisional Armourer. When it became apparent that the Ross Rifle was not designed to perform as a combat Infantry weapon under field conditions, he recommended its withdrawal from service. This recommendation invoked the anger of Ross, the designer of the rifle, and General Sam Hughes, the Minister of Defence. Clifford requested and received a transfer to the Royal Flying Corp. Tragically, he was killed in a mission over France in 1917.
En 1911, M. Clifford devint le premier gagnant du Prix du Roi né en sol canadien. Il fut aussi le premier à utiliser un fusil fabriqué au Canada.
Il se qualifia pour l’équipe de Bisley à deux reprises, et s’est classé en troisième place au grand ensemble une fois. Il perdit la vie en France lors de la guerre 1914-18.
