Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford four children: Clifford was killed on 24 June 1314 fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn and was buried at Shap Abbey in Westmoreland. Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford (1 April 1274 - 24 June 1314), of Appleby Castle, Westmorland, feudal baron of Appleby and feudal baron of Skipton in Yorkshire, was an English soldier who became 1st Lord Warden of the Marches, responsible for defending the English border with Scotland. He was born at Clifford Castle, Herefordshire, a son of Roger II de Clifford (d.1282) (a grandson of Walter II de
Robert the Bruce appear not to have expected the Scots to give battle here, and as a result had kept their forces in marching, rather than battle, order, with the archers − who would usually have been used to break up enemy spear formations − at the back, rather than the front, of the army. The English cavalry found it hard to operate in the cramped terrain and were crushed by Robert's spearmen. The English army was overwhelmed and its leaders were unable to regain control. Edward II was dragged from the battlefield, hotly pursued by the Scottish forces, and only just escaped