Phillip Clancey

Phillip Alexander Clancey (26 September 1917 – 18 July 2001) was a leading authority on the ornithology of South Africa.

Background and education

Phillip Clancey was born, brought up and educated in Glasgow, Scotland. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art where his artistic skills were developed.

Military service

Clancey served in the 51st (Highland) Division with the Allied forces in Sicily and Italy during World War II, narrowly escaping death and being deafened in one ear by an artillery explosion.

Following his death in 2001, Clancy's military medals, together with his "Gill Memorial Medal" were auctioned by City Coins, Cape Town, in 2006, on behalf of the Clancey Estate. These medals, including the Gill Memorial Medal were purchased on the auction by David R. Bennett - Chairman of the Durban Natural Science Museum Trust, and the medals now form part of the Bennett Military Medal Collection. The Gill Memorial Medal, first awarded in 1960 by the South African Orinthological Society (now Birdlife South Africa) is awarded for 'Services to Orinitholoy South of the Zambezi' and has only been awarded nineteen times between 1960 and 2012. Clancey was the fifth recipient of the award, in 1972.