One of my father’s great quests is to find the grave of his 2 x great grandfather, Thomas Gaffney. The family story is that Thomas’s son Michael travelled from New Zealand back to England to place a headstone on his father’s grave. While I was living in England, I was determined to find that headstone.
Tag: Gaffaney (Page 1 of 5)
I’ve written before about my relative (first cousin, thrice removed) Peter Gaffaney, who died during World War I. A couple of years ago I met some members from that side of the family, who very kindly gave me photos of Peter’s war medals and his memorial plaque (commonly referred to as a “Dead Man’s Penny”)….
My grandfather and his parents, out on the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand. A photograph from a family album. Wordless Wednesday is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.
This is how the Tower of London is commemorating the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red is an installation created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, and has involved the help of hundreds of volunteer ‘poppy planters’. The Tower’s…
February already and I’m only just getting round to my first post of the new year. Too late to join in GeniAUS’s Accentuate the Positive geneameme?? I hope not! Last year Jill came up with this great way to celebrate the genealogical highs of the previous twelve months, rather than dwell on any lows. Here’s…
I’m not related to any famous generals or admirals (that I know of!), but I am immensely proud of those servicemen in my family who fought with courage and fortitude in their own way, and I honour one of them this ANZAC Day. My (first, thrice removed) cousin Peter has appeared in a few posts…
95 years ago today, Peter Michael Gaffaney was wounded in action during a German offensive at the Somme. He died en route to hospital from shell wounds to the face and neck. After our visit to Ypres, we took a three hour detour through France to visit his grave site at Louvencourt Military Cemetery. The…
Yesterday I posted a photo of my cousin (first, thrice removed), Peter Michael Gaffaney. I’ve shown the image before, in a post commemorating ANZAC Day – Australia and New Zealand’s “Remembrance Day”, on April 25th. In that previous post, I gave some of the information I had gleaned from Peter’s service record. However, the details…