John Caffrey

For the Gaelic footballer, see John Caffrey (Gaelic footballer).

John Joseph Caffrey
File:John Joseph Caffrey VC.jpg John Caffrey (left)
Born	23 October 1891 Birr, Kings County, Ireland
Died	22 February 1953 Derby, England
Buried	Southern Cemetery, Nottingham
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lance-Corporal
Unit	Sherwood Foresters York and Lancaster Regiment Home Guard
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Victoria Cross Cross of St. George (4th Class) (Russia)

John Joseph Caffrey VC (23 October 1891 – 22 February 1953), was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that is awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Caffrey left Ireland at an early age and settled in Nottingham, joining the army in 1910. He was 24 years old, and a private in the 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 16 November 1915 near La Brique, France, a man was badly wounded and lying in the open unable to move, in full view of and about 350 yards (320 m) from the enemy's trenches. A corporal of the RAMC and Private Caffrey at once started to rescue him, but at the first attempt were driven back by shrapnel fire. They tried again and succeeded in reaching and bandaging the wounded man, but just as they were lifting him up, the RAMC corporal was shot in the head. Private Caffrey bandaged the corporal and helped him back to safety, and then returned and brought in the other wounded man.

He later achieved the rank of Sergeant and served in the Home Guard in World War II. He died in Derby, England on 22 February 1953.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at The York and Lancaster Regiment Museum within the Clifton Park Museum in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England.

• VCJohnCaffrey.jpg

  Cigarette card colourised photograph of John Caffrey VC

Further reading

Listed in order of publication year

• The Register of the Victoria Cross (1981, 1988 and 1997)
• Ireland's VCs (Dept of Economic Development, 1995)
• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• Irish Winners of the Victoria Cross (Richard Doherty & David Truesdale, 2000)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Nottinghamshire)