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Pte. Christopher "Christy" Caffrey
British Army 7th Battalion Leinster Regiment
from:18 St Finian's Terrace, Navan, Ireland
Christopher "Christy" Caffrey, was my great grandfather. He was born Q1 1891 Navan Hospital, Navan, County Meath and died 13 Nov 1922 Navan, County Meath, Ireland of pneumonia.
He was never the same after coming back from the trenches and taking in the gas which weakened his lungs. He married Annie Brady Q4 1914 Navan. He had 4 children, the eldest was my grandmother born 4th May 1915 followed by her brother Christopher "Christy" 2nd October 1917 (but who sadly died of pneumonia, 12th May 1935, after going fishing with friends and getting wet and then going on to a football match so the story goes). Annie was born and died in Q4 1919 Navan and finally Patrick "Mannix" arrived 23rd July 1921 (d 2004). The family lived at 18 St Finian's Terrace in Navan.
I have two letters Christy sent when he was held at Gustrow POW camp in 1918 which are lovely but ever so fragile. I have totally transcribed one of them but not so the other as it appears to be written in pencil. They were sent by Christy to his sister Bridget who was a nurse and living in Chester, England.
I was always told he was given a large military funeral when he died and I have a picture of it although there was also another member of the family who died in 1923 and this may have been their funeral as I know that was large. I am guessing there would be a newspaper article on it?
It's a very sad story as Annie had to bring up her three children on her own and then her eldest son dies when he is 17. Annie gets a war pension which is decreased when she remarries in 1938. Annie lived until 1981 in 18 St Finian's Terrace. Christy Snr is buried in St Mary's Cemetary in Navan. I don't ever see his name anywhere which is a real shame so it would be good for him to be recognised somewhere.
He did not die directly in the war but indirectly so in many ways was a casualty which letters on file attest to from people who knew him at the time. There are lots of letters on file back and forth for years while Annie Caffrey fights relentlessly to get her husband's pension as he died in service but they said he died of double pneumonia so he was not killed or died due to anything military related. She mentions she is destitute in one letter and it is heart breaking. It's an interesting story as I am sure you come across many.
