Robert Albert CAFFERY

Regimental number12/1029
Date of birth11 September 1887
Place of birthAuckland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationBoiler maker
Address2 Melford Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation19
Height5' 10.5"
Weight164 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs M Caffery, 2 Melford Street, Ponsonby, Auckland
Enlistment date21 August 1914
Place of enlistmentAuckland
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Auckland Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 16 October 1914
The Auckland Infantry Battalion in the Main Body left New Zealand on board two ships, HMNZT 8 ('Star of India') and HMNZT 12 ('Waimana'). It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Final rankPrivate
Final unit16th (Waikato) Company, 1st Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment
Discharge date23 May 1919
Family/military connectionsBrother: 11404 Pte Joseph CAFFERY, 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, killed in action, 29 March 1918.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Disembarked Alexandria, Egypt, 4 December 1914.

Admitted to New Zealand Field Ambulance, Gallipoli, 17 July 1915 (Otitis Interna); transferred to HS 'Clacton' and admitted to 24th Casualty Clearing Station, Dardanelles, 18 July 1915; transferred to Base, 20 July 1915. Disembarked From hospital ship and admitted to Florina Hospital, Malta, 25 July 1915; transferred to All Saints' Hospital, Malta, 11 August 1915. Discharged and proceeded to Egypt on board HMT 'Keron Heroe', 6 October 1915.

Arrived Egypt and attached to New Zealand Advance Base, Mustapha, 9 October 1915.

Admitted to Reception Hospital and transferred to New Zealand Infantry Depot, Mustapha, 17 October 1915.

Admitted to Division Base Isolation Hospital (venereal disease), Abbassia, 3 November 1915; discharged and attached to Base, Zeitoun, 16 November 1915.

Admitted to Division Base Isolation Hospital (venereal disease), Abbassia, 1 January 1916; discharged and attached to New Zealand Base Depot, Ghazieh, 26 January 1916.

Rejoined unit and posted to 16th (Waikato) Company, 1st Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment, Ismailia, 17 February 1916.

Embarked from Port Said, Egypt, for France, 6 April 1916.

Reported missing in action, France, 4 July 1916

Reported prisoner of war, interned at Giessen, Germany, 30 August 1916.

Released from captivity and arrived Dover, England, 23 December 1918; reported to New Zealand Headquarters, London, and granted two months leave, 24 December 1918; reported to New Zealand Command Depot, Codford, 24 February 1919.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Glasgow, Scotland, on board HMNZT 'Bhamo', 10 March 1919.

Arrived New Zealand, 26 April 1919.

Discharged on termination of period of engagement, 23 May 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Cause of death: (pulmonary tuberculosis; secondary cause: exhaustion)
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1
Date of death23 January 1936
Age at death39
Place of burialBrisbane, Queensland, Australia
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805