The Soldier's Details

McCaffrey was appointed 2 I/C of ‘A’ Company 2/4th MG Btn on the appointment of Major Saggers to the Special Reserve Battalion.  He was a regular soldier and a Graduate of Royal Military College, Duntroon.

Below:  McCaffrey would have played Aussie Rules Footy growing up in Victoria.

McCaffrey was in the 2/4th Football team in Northam. Please read further

 

He attended the Japanese War Crimes Trials at Rabaul from 30/4/1946 – 21/6/1946.

McCaffery was promoted to Captain Australian Staff Corps on 14/4/1947.

His appointment was terminated on 25/5/1949, ‘D’ Class medically unfit.

Please read further of the men of A Coy No. 4 Platoon

 

 

McCaffrey left Singapore with the first work party ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the railway.  Please read further

It was at Victoria Point Aerodrome where Pte Robert Goulden was executed by the Japanese for attempting to escape.  McCaffery was one of three officers from 2/4th who were witnesses.

From the Burma end of the rail link and towards end of 1943, the Japanese began moving all POWs to one of about large camps in Thailand – some were hospitals.

When the war ended, McCaffrey was recovered from Thailand before returning to Australia.

 

 

 

Below:  POWs would mention names of mates when writing home, believing if by luck their mail was successful – then their family would notify the families of men mentioned.

Capt Thomas mentioned McCaffrey as being in Burma with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the end of war, McCaffrey returned to NSW.  He married  Monica Helen Bourke in 1947.  Monica is an air hostess with TAA.

Very little is known of him  and his life thereafter.

Frank had five brothers and one sister.  His parents married 1909.  He was educated in Victoria attending Xaviour College.

His father died in 1944, Prahan, Victoria. His mother died 1967, Heathmont, Victoria.

 

Frank McCaffrey died 5 April 1989 in NSW.  He was last residing at MacQuarie Fields, NSW.