James Thomas

DETAILS OF DEATH

On 31 July 1959 Constable Clifton rode his Police motor cycle outfit from his home to the Parramatta Police Station where he had a meeting with local Detectives. Following the meeting he set out to ride to the Balmain Police Station to commence his rostered shift at 7pm. As he was travelling along Victoria Road Parramatta a pedestrian ran out onto the roadway near the intersection of Gagin Street. Although he took evasive action and braked the sidecar on Constable Clifton’s cycle hit the pedestrian. The cycle then veered across the road throwing the Constable beneath a car travelling toward him. He was killed instantly. The Constable was born in 1928 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 5 June 1950. He resigned in August 1954 and rejoined the Service on 26 August 1957. At the time of his death he was stationed at Balmain.