Cpl 305724 Patrick John Fahey

• Age: 24
• From: Hartley Whitney, Hampshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: P21-23

Patrick John Fahey was born in Hartley Whitney, Hampshire in the June quarter of 1894 the son of the William and Eliza (nee Woodger) Fahey, who were married on 15th July 1883 at the Parish Church, Farnborough. At the time his father was a 21 year old Private in the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers at North Camp.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Lily Cottage, Cambridge Rd, Farnborough.

The father William Fahey 34 is employed as a bricklayers labourerand was born in Galway, Ireland, and his wife Eliza aged 28 who was born in Godalming, Surrey. They have five children, Denis 10, Elizabeth 8, William 6, Margaret 4, Sarah 1, who were all born in Farnborough. 

The 1901 Census taken on 31st March shows the family living at 14 Meanygate, Walton-le-Dale, Lancashire. 

Father William Foy aged 41 is a bricksetters labourer, his wife Eliza 36 has no occupation listed. They have eight children, Lizzie Mary 18 cotton card room hand, William Geo.16 cotton card room hand, Margaret Ada 14 cotton card room hand, Sarah Rosan 12, Mary Ellen 9, Beatrice May 4, Patrick John Foy 7, and John William 1.

The father William died in 1905 aged 46

By 1911 the family have moved to 7 Pakington St, Preston.
The widowed mother Eliza (married 28 years 10 children, 9 still alive) now aged 47 is living with her following children Sarah 21 a cotton frame tenter, Mary Ellen 19 a cotton doubler, Beatrice 13 a cotton tenter, Patrick John is correctly shown as Fahey and is a 17 year old Creeler (Cotton Spinner), his birthplace is shown as Farnborough, Hampshire, and John 10 at school.

Preston Herald 3rd Feb 1912

PRESTON CREELERS CLAIM

COMPENSATION FOR INJURED KNEE

Patrick Fahey, 17, creeler of 7 Pakington Street, Preston, applied at the Preston County Court yesterday for compensation for an accident from the firm of Messrs. Horrockses, Crewdon and Co. Ltd., cotton manufacturers, Preston. Mr Fazackerley represented this applicant and Mr Taylor, Blackburn, the respondents. Explaining the accident Mr Fazackerley said that the applicant knocked his knee against the carriage of a spinning mule whilst doffing on the morning of Friday October 27th, and on the following day his knee was very swollen. He complained on the day of the accident, and the next day to a piercer and a minder. He was subsequently off work 6 weeks through this injury. £3 compensation was claimed. The amount was agreed to with costs.

He originally joined the 8th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 2620 but was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 305724 when he was killed in action on the 28^th March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion Diary gives an insight into the chaotic events of the day

28^th March

At about 6am the enemy commenced to shell heavily the whole of the forward line and brought Trench Mortars and MACHINE Guns into action.

FOLIES was shelled and the area in the rear of the village as far back as LE QUESNEL.

Rations were received at dawn and parties were organised to carry them to the Companies on the right. Owing to the heavy fire, however, it was not possible to get them up.

Heavy fighting was in progress on the right from soon after dawn and at 8am the enemy was reported to be in possession of BOUCHOIR and progressing towards the BEETROOT FACTORY. About 10am  the 59^th Infy Brigade was notified that it was relieved by the French and the Battalions of that Brigade were at once withdrawn in the direction of LE QUESNEL.

At noon the enemy was bombarding the village and vicinity heavily and reports were received that he was in occupation of WARVILLERS on the left and ARVILLERS on the right.

The front line East of FOLIES continued to resist until about 2pm when the order was received from the 89^th Infy Brigade to the effect that the Battalions were relieved by the French and would withdraw at once to MEZIERES, where the men would be fed. Companies withdrew under some shelling and very heavy M.G. and rifle fire from the left , through K10 -K3 – North side LE QUESNEL to the main ROYE road and reorganised about D.29 c. The march from this point was conducted in good order despite the congested roads.

At MEZIERES it was decided to continue a rearward movement and the march was resumed via VILLERS-MOREUIL – MORISEL – ROUVREL, which village was reached about 7pm and the Battalion billeted. The men had marched 13 miles from the left position in good order and with practically no straggling. They were exhausted on arrival at ROUVREL, but in good heart.

Echelon ‘A’ of the Transport joined the Battalion at this village and the men were fed immediately on arrival. The night passed without incident.     

Patrick has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

He is also remembered on the Preston Roll of Honour situated in the Harris Museum and Art Gallery.

Soldiers Effects to sister Elizabeth Charlton(?) and brother William G. and pension to his mother Eliza.

Mother Eliza died in 1919 aged 56.

We currently have no further information on Patrick John Fahey, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.