2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
04/01/1896
Died:
22/09/1917 (Died of Wounds)
Age:
21
Summary
Joseph Fred McCaffrey was the son of Thomas and Mary Anne McCaffrey. He was born on 4th January 1896, the youngest of seven children all born in Fivemiletown. They were a farming family. Joseph became a tailor’s apprentice. Private Joseph McCaffrey was serving with ‘A’ Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was wounded at Passchendaele, where there was a major offensive on the Messines Road at that time. Private McCaffrey died of his wounds on 22nd September 1917.
Further Information
Joseph Fred McCaffrey was the youngest son of Thomas and Mary Anne McCaffrey. Thomas McCaffrey and Mary Doherty were married on 19th November 1883 in the district of Dungannon.
Joseph Fred McCaffrey was born on 4th January 1896. He was the youngest of seven children, all born in Fivemiletown.
Known family: Thomas McCaffrey, Mary Anne McCaffrey, James McCaffrey (born 2nd July 1885), Patrick McCaffrey (born 26th January 1887), Thomas McCaffrey (born 12th January 1889), John McCaffrey (born 29th May 1891), Catherine Letitia McCaffrey (born 26th January 1893), William McCaffrey (born 23rd April 1894), Joseph Fred McCaffrey (born 4th January 1896).
The 1901 census records Joseph as age 5 living with the family at house 4 in Kiltermon, Fivemiletown, Tyrone. He was at school. Thomas’ father was a farmer.
The 1911 census lists Joseph Fred as age 15 living with the family at house 6 in Kiltermon, Fivemiletown, Tyrone. He was working as a tailor’s apprentice.
Joseph McCaffrey enlisted in Enniskillen.
Private Joseph McCaffrey was serving with 'A' Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was wounded at Passchendaele, where there was a major offensive on the Messines Road at that time.
Private McCaffrey died of his wounds on 22nd September 1917. He was 21 years old.
In his will Joseph left all to his mother, who was living at Kiltermon, Fivemiletown.
Last Will and Testament of Joseph McCaffrey
In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs Mary Anne McCaffrey, Kiltermon, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone, Ireland. Private Joseph McCaffrey. Private 2 Royal Innis Fusiliers. 24 February 1917.
His brother, Private Thomas McCaffrey, was serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Irish Guards when he was killed in action on 14th April 1918 during the Kaiserslacht offensive, seven months later.
Private Joseph McCaffrey is buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery, His inscription reads: O COMPASSIONATE LORD JESUS GRANT HIM ETERNAL REST
Private Joseph McCaffrey is commemorated locally on Fivemiletown War Memorial.
The CWGC records ‘Private Joseph McCaffrey’ as the son of Thomas and Mary Anne McCaffrey of Kiltermon, Fivemiletown, County Tyrone.
Thanks to Frank McCaffrey, who has been in contact to confirm that the family name of his two great granduncles was McCaffrey.
Private Joseph McCaffrey is listed on pages 54 and 55 of the Fivemiletown book, from which details and photo come from. Many thanks to Mark Byers for the information.
