Captain Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford GCMG CB MVO (3 July 1890 – 6 October 1969)[1] was a British diplomat and colonial administrator,[2] born in New Zealand, where his parents had moved in an unsuccessful attempt at sheep-farming.

From 1917 he was aide-de-camp, then Private Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia, Sir Ronald Ferguson.

[6] From 1921 to 1931, he was Secretary to the Governor-General of South Africa, first to Prince Arthur of Connaught and then to the Earl of Athlone.

They had three daughters: Clifford was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) on 18 August 1920 in recognition of his services in the Royal Fusiliers as Military Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia,[9] which was presented to him by the then Prince of Wales during his visit to Australia.

[10] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 1 January 1931 in recognition of his services as Imperial Secretary to the South African High Commission and Representative in the Union of South Africa of the UK Government.