| Regimental number | 15921 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Tinwald |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Farm labourer |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 5.5" |
| Weight | 151 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, J. Laffey, Tinwald, Ashburton |
| Previous military service | Served in C Company, 2nd South Canterbury Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Trentham |
| Rank on embarkation | Rifleman |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 6th Reinforcements to 3rd Battalion, G Company |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on board Waitemata on |
| Final rank | Rifleman |
| Final unit | 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | France |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, France |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John & Ellen Laffey, South Street, Ashburton, Christchurch |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Admitted to hospital, Trentham Camp, 10 April 1916 (gonorrhoea); discharged 17 April 1916. Embarked Wellington, 26 July 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 3 October 1916, and marched in to Reserve Group, Sling Camp. Proceeded overseas to France, 20 October 1916; joined Bn, in the field, 4 November 1916, and posted to C Company. Found guilty, 24 April 1917, of being late for Tattoo: forfeited 2 days' pay. Detached to 2nd Field Company Engineers, 23 July 1917; rejoined unit from detachment, 6 August 1917. Wounded in action, 8 August 1917 (gun shot wound, left thigh and index finger), and admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance; discharged to duty, 13 August 1917; rejoined Bn, 23 August 1917. On leave to United Kingdom, 12 October 1917; rejoined Bn from leave, 27 October 1917. Detached to Divisional Bomb Store, 16 November 1917; rejoined Bn from detachment, 22 February 1918. Killed in action, 29 March 1918. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | Nominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 37, p. 18 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805 |