Clement Hoppie Shaddock was born in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville on 17 June 1898 to parents Walter and Amy. He had two younger sisters, Allison and Elsie. Shaddock enlisted with the Australian Imperial Force on 27 July 1915. At the time, he was 18 years old and working as a porter. He embarked from Sydney with the 13th reinforcements to the 13th Battalion aboard HMAT Aeneas on 20 December 1915, and also served with the 13th Battalion Band. He returned to Australia in May 1919 and married Winifred Moore on 4 December 1926. Shaddock died on 20 September 1955 and is buried at Woronora Cemetery in the Sydney suburb of Sutherland.