No.3/3291, Private, Ernest Horace CAFFYN
Aged 30
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Ernest George Caffyn was born in Newmarket in 1886 (Newmarket Q3-1886 3B:534), son of Walter James and Lottie CAFFYN (née MOSS).
1901 census...Aged 4,he was at Grosvenor Yard,Newmarket with his father Walter CAFFYN [28] stableman; his mother Lottie [27], brother Frederick (William) [2] and sister Louie [2months] who died that year. 1891 census has his father born in Hide Park Mews, London. This census has them all as Newmarket born. His father died in 1907. His mother has not been identified after 1901. 1911 census...Aged 13, as Earnest Caffon, place of birth unknown, he was at North Street, Burwell, boarding with Elizabeth FULLER, [51] a widow, shopkeeper, born in Reach, her son Johnny [9] born Burwell and William CAFFON [12] birthplace unknown and seemingly the brother of Earnest. From this and Army records it seems the two Caffyn brother were orphaned by 1911 and appear to have also been taken under the wing of the Vicar later on. |
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He enlisted in Sheffield in the York and Lancaster Regiment on 20th August 1914, born in Newmarket, giving his age as 18 years, a miner,
5 feet 3.75 inches (162 cm)
tall, weighing 103 lbs (46.9 kg), chest 33.5" to 37.5" (85.1 to 95.3 cm), brown eyes, dark brown hair, Church of England. After training at several camps in Yorkshire he was posted
to Gallipoli 18th September 1915, joining the 6th Battalion in the field on 21st November 1915. Evacuated from Gallipoli on 20th December 1915 he arrived
in Egypt 3rd February 1916 and left there for the BEF on 27th June 1916, arriving in France on 4th July 1916. There is a discrepancy between dates on his
Army records and his medal index card. Reported wounded, then missing on 29th September 1916, his body was found about one mile west of Courcelette, 4.5 miles NNE of Albert. There were several letters between the Army, the Vicar of Burwell and his brother William regarding wills and medals. The family form completed by his brother William CAFFYN [21], No. 447829 Private in the 50 Sqdn, No 2 Army Remount Service at Woolwich has William as Ernest's only living relative. The 6th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette - General Haig's 'final push' in the First Battle of the Somme (the first use of tanks in battle on the 15th). They had 58 killed, 40 have no known grave.
  photo: Rodney Gibson photo: Rodney Gibson click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
