Pte 23936 John Joseph Gaffney

• Age: 27
• From: Garston, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

John Joseph Gaffney was born in the September quarter of 1889, in Garston, Liverpool the second surviving son of James Gaffney and his wife Ann (nee Smith). His parents married on the 28th November 1878 in St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool, and had nine children, four of whom died young. Their first child, William, died at age 1. John had older siblings James, Mary Ann (who died at 4 months), and Mary Catherine. His younger siblings were Winifred (also died at 1 year old), Annie, Peter (died in infancy), and Martin Henry.

At the time of the 1891 Census the family is living at 50 Raglan Street in Garston. His father is aged 35, a labourer born Woolton, mother Ann is aged 31, born Sutton, St Helens. They have James 9 a scholar, Mary 4, and John, 1 year old, as well as a lodger. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 48 Raglan Street, Garston. His father James was born in Woolton in 1856 and is a general labourer at a gas works. His mother Ann was born in Sutton Oak in 1860. John is 11 and has three siblings listed; James 19, is working as a navvy, Annie is 3, and Peter 8 months old. 

His brother Peter sadly died in infancy in the third quarter of 1901.   

The 1911 Census shows the family are still at 48 Raglan Street. His father, 56, is a dock labourer for the L&NW Railway, and his mother is 51. They advise that they have been married for 33 years and have had nine children, five of whom have survived.  John is now aged 21 and employed as a picture framer, living with his parents and siblings; James a 29 year old dock labourer, Annie 13 and Henry 9 are at school.

Married daughter Mary Catherine Davis lives a few doors away at number 60 Raglan Street with her husband and one-year old son, and her unmarried uncle Patrick Gaffney, 50.  

John enlisted in Liverpool joining the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23936. The amount of the War Gratuity as well as his regimental number suggest that he volunteered in December 1914.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

John arrived in France with his Battalion on 07th November 1915.

John was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916 at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive, aged 27. 

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone. 

John was initially reported Missing.

King’s (Liverpools) - Gaffney, 23936, J.; 

His parents appealed for information in the local paper on 31st August 1916:

"Pte. John Gaffney (27), machine gun section, K.L.R.  His parents reside at 48 Raglan Street, Garston. He was captain of the St. Francis' Y.M. Society billiard team at Garston."

It was nearly ten months later that his parents were officially notified of his death, posting a notice in the local newspaper on 26th May 1917:

"July 30, previously reported missing, now reported killed, Private John J. J. Gaffney, K.L.R.. the beloved second son of James and Ann Gaffney, 48 Raglan Street, Garston.  R.I.P."

John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

John is also commemorated in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Garston.

His family placed an In Memoriam notice on the first anniversary of his death under the header:

IN MEMORIAM

LOST AT BATTLE OF GUILLEMONT

GAFFNEY - In sad but ever-loving memory of Private John J Gaffney, Pals, killed in action July 30 1916, second son of James and Ann Gaffney, 48 Raglan-street Garston. R.I.P.  

He earned his three medals.

His mother was awarded a pension of 12/- a week from July 1917.

His father received his outstanding Army pay, and after his death (he appears to have died in late 1918, aged 63 and was buried at Allerton Cemetery)), the War Gratuity of £7 went to his mother.

His youngest brother Martin Henry also died in late 1918 at the age of 16.

In Memoriam - on the first anniversary of his death .

His mother died in 1931 aged 70 and was buried at Allerton Cemetery.

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