1893 Dec 22. Born Welshpool, Montgomeryshire. (1893 is correct from GRO registration - Bertrand George Claffey) His father was Daniel William Claffey, who seems to have changed to William Daniel Claffey later in life
1901 Jan/Mar his mother Luena died with his grandparents
1901 census at Hill Place, Welshpool
1908 May. Enlisted as 4211 Private Bertie Claffey, 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve), Royal Welch Fusiliers
1911 Mar 19. enlisted into the Regular Army as 10564 Private Bertie Claffey into the Royal Welch Fusiliers at Wrexham. Aged 18 & a labourer
1911 census. Private at the Depot, Royal Welch Fusiliers, 18, from Welshpool, Montgomeryshire, Wales
1912 Apr 10. Son Berty Joseph born. The entry has been ammended to give father´s name as Bertram Joseph Claffey. Interestingly the entry was ammended after their marriage, presumably when a marriage cert was produced
1912 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in Portland
1912 Jun 16 Married in Dublin to Catherine Moore of 20 Watling St (same address on his death cert)
1913 Sep 13. Margaret Mary born in Dublin
1914 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in Malta
6 Oct 1914 Landed at Zeebrugge with ‘D’ Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
1914 Oct 30 Taken POW. Between the 27 and 29 Oct 1914, the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers were occupying trenches East of Kleine at Zillebeke and were occasionally withdrawn to rest in the town of Zillebeke. They were here to help reinforce 20th Brigade. At daybreak on the 30 Oct the enemy attacked the trenches in strength and the enemy pushed back the right flank and enabled them to enfilade the trenches held by the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers. At the end of the days fighting all the available officers were either missing or wounded. In total 6 officers were missing together with 320 NCO’s and men. Also missing were 4 officers of the DCLI, 1 Officer Essex and 1 Officer RAMC.
Private Bertie Claffey had a rifle bullet wound to the head and hip and taken prisoner.
Held at the ‘F’ Lazarett, military hospital for POWs.
1915 Mar 6. listed as being held at the Wittenberg POW Camp
While a POW was liable for punishment for refusing to work. As a result his correspondence was restricted.
1919 Jan 2 left Germany
1919 Jan 3. arrived at Leith
1919 Mar 29. o Section B Reserve. Liable for recall on a general mobilisation. Re-numbered 4180821 Lance Corporal Bertie Claffey, Royal Welch Fusiliers
1921 Jan 1. Discharged
1921 Feb 26. died Dublin . Husband of K. Claffey, of 20, Watling St., Dublin.. Death Cert gives him as Army Pensioner who died of TB
British soldiers died in Ireland