210867 Spr. Matthias Duffy MM.British Army 447th Field Company Royal Engineers from:Burnopfield (d.14th July 1917) My grandfather, Matthias Duffy, born in Whickham, Co Durham, was a miner and joined as a war-time volunteer as a territorial soldier and joined the Royal Engineers in 1914. He was posted to 447th Field Company part of the 50th Northumbrian Division. He crossed to France on 27th August 1915, serving at Ypres and on the Messines sector in 1915-16. In August 1916 he was in action on the Somme at Martinpuich, Le Sars and Eaucourt. He was then in action on the Arras front in battles at Wancourt and Cherisy. He died during a trench digging operation near Cherisy on 14th July 1917. "Lt Forster and 4 sappers worked on a new front line in front of Bullfinch Support between Dead Bosche Sap and Byker Sap in heavy rain at night." In an attack he was killed, Sapper Carlin and Lance Corporal Ankell were wounded. He is buried in Heninel Communal Extension Cemetery. He is commemorated on the Burnopfield War Memorial and the memorial in St Joseph's RC Church. Sapper Matthias Duffy was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field on the Arras front, reported in the London Gazette on Tuesday 19th of December 1916.
|