Patrick Cafferty

Name: Patrick Cafferty
Rank: Private
Unit/Regiment: 6th (Service) Battalion, The King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry)
Service Number: 16972
Date of Death: 23 July 1916
Cemetery: Albuera Cemetery, Bailleul-Sire-Berthoult, Pas de Calais, France

Patrick Cafferty was born in Batley in 1886, one of Michael and Bridget Cafferty’s seven children. The couple were both from County Mayo but married in Batley in 1881, with Bridget’s maiden name being Dunn. Michael worked as a rag grinder and, when Bridget’s occupation was mentioned, she worked as a rag sorter.

Eldest son John was born in September 1882, though he died in October 1884. Daughter Jane was born in February 1884, followed by Patrick. Thomas was born in October 1887, and Michael in July 1889. Next came Catherine in January 1892, but she died in March 1894. Their final child, son James, was born in 1898.¹

In 1891 the family lived at New Street, Batley, but by 1901 they were living at Ambler Street. By now 15-year-old Patrick had employment in the coal industry, working as a hurrier.

Towards the end of 1905 he married Mary Ann Brannan, and around a month later, in November, their daughter Ann was born. The couple initially made their home in Ambler Street, but there was no honeymoon period. On the contrary, the early days of their marriage proved challenging. It resulted in Mary Ann summoning Patrick to court in May 1906, after only seven months of marriage, citing persistent cruelty and requesting a separation order.²

The problems started almost immediately. During a row when the baby was only few weeks old, Mary Ann accused Patrick of throwing her and the baby out of the house. Things came to a head on 11 May in a row which resulted in the summons which landed the pair in court. Money appeared to be the source of trouble. Mary Ann claimed “I had to take the ring off my finger to put some boots on my feet and get something to eat.”³

Patrick now worked as a coal miner and earned 23s. a week, but Mary Ann claimed on that day in May he only offered her 7s. for the fortnight, which she refused. As a result, he went out and bought himself a pair of trousers, and spent the rest of the money on drink, although Mary Ann said he knew there was no money in the house. He even refused to give her any money when she asked him “to buy a bit of sugar for the baby’s food.”⁴

An argument followed this incident, with Patrick once more throwing her out of the house. A neighbour gave evidence that she heard Mary Ann scream, and she had to threaten to call the police before Patrick would open the door.

In his court response Patrick, “who looked a mere youth”⁵ (even just under seven years later when he was 27 another source put his height at just under 5 feet 2 inches)⁶ claimed Mary Ann was often the worse for drink, and when asked if he had “ill-used” his wife, he replied “I would have ill-used her if I could have got to her, but I could not.”⁷

John Foley, in evidence for Patrick, said he had seen Mary Ann throw three pots and a teapot at her husband, and Patrick followed that up stating she had broken all the pots in the house. She retorted that it was impossible “for there were never any pots in the house to break.”⁸

At this point Mary Ann was warned if she did not stop interrupting proceedings she would have to leave the court. In fact some of the interruptions and comments made by the female spectators did result in the removal of one lady.

The magistrates tried to persuade the two to live together, with one telling Mary Ann “If you talk to him as you have talked to the Court he will get a bit wild with your talk.”⁹ Mary Ann refused to return to him, saying she only wanted Patrick to maintain his child as she was able to work for herself – she was a rag sorter.

In the end a separation order was granted, with Patrick ordered to pay his wife 5s. a week, though the magistrates did say it would be far better if the two sorted out their differences and came together again.

The Court case failed to mention that Mary Ann was pregnant. In November she gave birth to another daughter, Jane. And it appears the separation did not last long, with Patrick and his wife resolving their problems.

More children followed – James in August 1908, Mary in January 1910, and Thomas in March 1911.

The 1911 census saw the family living at Fleming Square, Batley. Patrick worked as a coal hewer and Mary Ann as a rag sorter. But the census also records the death of two of their five children – both Jane and Mary failed to reach the age of one. Thomas died later in 1911, again under one. Their next child, Patrick, born in February 1912 only survived four hours. In December that year son Michael was born.

Money continued to remain tight. In March 1914 Patrick was in trouble after stealing 2s. 3d. from the gas meter in his home. He broke into it and spent the money on drink, but then his conscience kicked in. He handed himself in to the police saying “I could not rest till I came and told you.”¹⁰

In July 1914, days before the outbreak of war, both Patrick and Mary Ann were back before the Batley magistrates. Both received fines for using obscene language, along with Jane Cooney, a rag sorter with whom Mary Ann was quarrelling. Mary Ann’s excuse was “I was excited because my husband was in her (Cooney’s) house.”¹¹

Within weeks of this incident, in early September 1914, Patrick – who had been employed at Soothill – enlisted with the 6th KOYLI. He went out to France with them on 21 May 1915, serving initially in the Ypres Salient area.

Less than a month later, with his family now living at Hume Street, Mary Ann gave birth to their eighth, and final, child. This was another son who she named Patrick. But yet again tragedy struck. On 7 February 1916, whilst Mary Ann was working at Harrison’s leather works, seven-month-old Patrick was in the care of Mrs Burgoyne, a coffin-maker’s widow from New Street. He went into fits. Mary Ann was called, getting back just before the baby died.¹²

A post mortem and inquest followed, and the critical tone of the Coroner makes for uncomfortable reading.

It was agreed Patrick died after suffering convulsions due to pneumonia, and a verdict of death from natural causes was reached. But in the lead up to this verdict, Coroner Maitland, supported by Dr. Keighley, pontificated about incorrect feeding of babies, and the right time to start weaning.

In addition to giving baby Patrick boiled milk, Mary Ann admitted during the inquest to adding tea biscuits and bread to thicken it, on the advice of neighbours. This was common practice to fill a hungry baby, but went contrary to the standard medical advice to stick purely to milk. Whilst agreeing that Patrick was well-nourished and well-developed, the doctor hinted at signs of a rickety condition which the Coroner led him to attributing to improper feeding. The inquest even covered the fact this was the fifth of Mary Ann’s eight children to die, with the Coroner pointing out that this did not sound as if her feeding ideas were correct.

The Coroner did go on to say that whilst Patrick was improperly fed, it did not appear to be connected with his death. However, the condemnation Mary Ann received during the inquest – and then recounted in the newspaper reporting – appeared insensitive and excessive. And there was an undertone of the patronising attitudes held by certain elements of society towards those less well off. The depth to which feeding was covered did seem as if the inquest was being used to publicly reinforce that babies, even at seven months, should be fed purely on milk. The manner in which Mary Ann was being held up as a public example implied she, and her feelings as a mother, did not count.

And this was not the first time she had been used in this way. Back in November 1914, when she was fined by Batley magistrates for in another incident for using bad language, Inspector Ripley pointed out an Army Council order warning wives of soldiers that they might lose their allowances if they failed to conduct themselves properly. He went on to say as Mary Ann received £1 separation allowance and 7s. 6d. from Batley War Relief Bureau, she should behave better. The reporting was a veiled warning to all other soldier’s wives: step out of line and financial support might be withdrawn.¹³

Five months after baby Patrick’s death, his father died. In this period, with the Battle of the Somme raging, the 6th KOYLI were further to the north in the Arras area. Towards the middle of June onwards they took up position in the St Nicholas sector about a mile to the north of Arras.

According to the official history of the KOYLI, on 23 July 1916, the 6th Battalion were occupying trenches in that neighbourhood. Heavy trench mortaring started at 8.50am and continued until 1.30pm. The trenches were demolished and the front line temporarily evacuated, but for four sentries who were subsequently buried in the shelling. The situation quietened for a while, but heavy shelling resumed once more between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. In the next spell of relative calm several attempts were then made to get out the sentries, but this proved impossible because of enemy snipers. The bombardment commenced yet again at 9.15pm until 10.10pm. This was followed by an enemy raid which, before being repulsed, reached as far as the support line and resulted in the bombing of the dug-out where the company headquarters was based.¹⁴

6th KOYLI records show that in the events of that day one officer was killed and another reported missing, almost certainly buried in the cellar of a house. Amongst the other ranks, nine were killed, six recorded as missing believed killed, and a further 32 wounded. The Unit War Diary names Patrick Cafferty as amongst the killed that day.¹⁵

Often the first source of definite news about a soldier’s death was a letter from a friend of the casualty.  This was especially true during major offensives when the army’s administration was under severe pressure.  On these occasions it might take some time before official confirmation of death reached home.

This appears to be what happened in Patrick’s case. News of his death was contained in a letter received by his wife from a “pal”, Pte. Mark Brennen of New Street, Batley. He said that Pte. Cafferty was killed on July 23, and added:

I cannot tell you how I feel. It has nearly broken my heart to think of it. You and his father and mother must bear this terrible news with a good heart. He died without pain. You have the deepest sympathy of all his chums who are left.¹⁶

This was closely followed by the official death notification from the War Office, dated 31 July.

It is impossible to imagine the anxiety and loss families went through during the war. And this is illustrated in the Cafferty family. In the space of a few weeks in that summer of 1916, in addition to Patrick’s death, in early July his brother, Thomas, also with the KOYLI, was wounded in the arm. He was in hospital in Norfolk when Patrick died. Thomas did survive the war. However another brother, Michael, was not so lucky. He died days after Patrick, and is also commemorated on the St Mary’s War Memorial. His biography can be read here.

And even after death the uncertainty and trauma for families continued, with no proper closure for many. This was the case for Patrick’s family. Initially it seems Patrick had no known grave. However, in mid-September 1923, his remains were located just north west of Anzin-Saint-Aubin, about two miles north west of Arras. Although his burial place was not marked by a cross, he was identified by his clothing, boots, Light Infantry Badge, Cap Badge and, crucially, his identity disc. The latter was forwarded to base.¹⁷ His body was subsequently re-buried in Albuera Military Cemetery, where it lays today.

Back in Batley the timing of the identification of Patrick’s body must have taken on a heightened significance for his family. Preparations for the official unveiling of Batley War Memorial, on which Patrick would be commemorated, were reaching their climax. The ceremony would take place on 27 October. Widows of the fallen were amongst the invited guests. But Mary Ann, who submitted the form with her husband’s name to the Town Clerk, would not be there. She died in Wakefield on 28 September 1923 and was buried in Batley cemetery on 3 October 1923, following her inquest two days earlier.¹⁸

Patrick was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

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Footnotes:
1. A feature with the births of several of the Cafferty children is there births, as noted when baptised, did not always coincide with civil registration. For example John’s birth was not registered until the March quarter of 1883. I have used birth dates given at baptism for the Cafferty children. The exception is Patrick, whose baptism is not recorded in the St Mary’s parish register.
2. Batley Reporter and Guardian – 1 June 1906.
3. Batley News – 1 June 1906.
4. Batley Reporter and Guardian – 1 June 1906.
5. Batley News – 1 June 1906.
6. Wakefield Prison Registers, Nominal Register Number 107, Year Range: 1913 Jun – 1914 Feb, West Yorkshire Archive Service, Reference Number: C118/217.
7. Batley News – 1 June 1906.
8. Batley Reporter and Guardian – 1 June 1906.
9. Batley News – 1 June 1906.
10. Dewsbury District News, 4 April 1914.
11. Batley News – 12 February 1916.
13. Batley News, 7 November 1914.
14. Bond, Reginald C. History of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in the Great War, 1914-1918. London: P. Lund, Humphries, 1929;
15. 6th KOYLI Unit War Diary, The National Archives, Ref WO95/1906/1
16. Batley Reporter and Guardian, 4 August 1916.
17. CWGC Burial Return.
18. Mary Ann’s Death Certificate gives her death date as 28 September 1923, although newspaper death notices put it as 1 October 1923.

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Other Sources (not directly referenced):
• 1891 to 1911 England and Wales Censuses.
• Batley Cemetery burial registers.
• Batley Borough Court Records.
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission website.
• Death Certificate, Mary Ann Cafferty.
• GRO Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes.
• The Long, Long Trail website.
• Medal Index Card.
• Medal Award Rolls.
• Parish Registers.
• Pension Ledgers and Card Indexes.
• Service Records.
• Soldiers Died in the Great War.
• Soldiers’ Effects Registers.