Anzac Day: Centenarian World War II veteran Cynthia Clifford to march in Brisbane

One of Brisbane’s oldest World War II veterans has told how she didn’t want to be stuck in an office when she enlisted.

War veteran Cynthia Clifford, 100, at her nursing home in Brisbane. Picture: Josh Woning

One of Brisbane’s oldest World War II veterans who will be taking part in the city’s Anzac Day parade said it is important that the Anzac spirit lives on.

Centenarian Cynthia Clifford, who served as an anti-aircraft gunner in Western Australia during World War II, will be joining her fellow former and current servicemen and women.

The 100-year-old will be taking part in the march in a wheelchair alongside 2000 serving personnel from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, while it is expected a crowd numbering 12,000 onlookers will line the streets.

Centenarian Cynthia Clifford is one of the oldest World War II veterans in Brisbane. Picture: Josh Woning

“My grandson Brandt, he is going to push me and all my children, including some from Sydney, they’re going to march with me,” Mrs Clifford said.

“Anzac Day means a lot to me, my father, he had four brothers, the five of them went to the Middle East in the First World War and the whole lot came back.

“It will be a big day for my family and I, it is important to remember Anzac Day and what it stands for.”

Hailing from a military family, Mrs Clifford enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service on October 21, 1943 wanting to help out the war effort.

Cynthia Clifford in her service uniform.

Having previously worked as a secretary and typist, her services were sought in the office, but that was not where Mrs Clifford wanted to be.

“I said I didn’t join the army to be in an office, I joined the army to be a soldier,” she said.

“So that’s why they sent me to the anti-aircraft guns.”

Mrs Clifford was tasked to Fremantle, where the anti-aircraft heavy artillery division was based.

“We were called predictor operators, we helped put the data into the guns and then they said fire,” she recollected.

“We’re in a pit next to where the guns went off and when the gun officer was already to go he would say fire.

“We used to train by shooting at a drogue on the back of an airplane.”