Private William Rockliff arrived
in Australia with his wife and family in 1824. They were
on board the ship
*"Earl Godfrey" * On the
voyage out they had a daughter whom they named Ann
Godfrey Rockliff . As a member of the 40th Regiment he
served at Parramatta and Launceston Tasmania. William was
sent to India with his Regiment and was wounded . During
his return to England 2 February 1838 he died of these
wounds. William had a son William born in Sydney 23rd of
October 1825. He in turn had a child Roger Ayton Rockliff
who returned to Tasmania to live in 1878. Roger and his
family moved to Sydney around 1900. Ayton's son William
Montgomery Rockliff followed the family military
tradition by being a member of the 10th Battalion during
the First World War . He was among the first A.N.Z.A.C.s
who landed at Gallipoli. William Montgomery went on to
serve at Pozieres France and was awarded the Military
Medal at Galloipoli and the Military Cross at Pozieres.