War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 2 March 1915. Transferred to 'Osamnieh' from 1st Stationary Hospital, Mudros, 14 April 1915.

Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Ceramic', 4 May 1915 (venereal). Discharged from Isolation Camp, Langwarrin, and sent to Broadmeadows for return to duty, 1 June 1915. Did not report at Camp; no trace found.

Re-embarked from Melbourne, 8 May 1915, on board HMAT 'Euripides', as 1595 Pte, 24th Bn, 1st Reinforcement.

Wounded in action, Gallipoli, 7 October 1915 (gun shot wound, right thigh), and admitted to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to General Hospital, Gibraltar, 15 October 1915; to England, and admitted to No 2 Southern General Hospital, Bristol (date not recorded).

Found guilty, 13 December 1915, of being absent without leave, 3-13 December 1915: awarded 11 days' detention and forfeited 11 days' pay.

Brother-in-law, B. Bycroft, wrote to Base Records, 18 October 1915: 'We have heard certain rumours about him, and his mother is bery much upset ... We have had no official information regarding any sickness that may have befallen him, yet letters we have written to him are returned to us marked "In Base Hospital". Why? The last letter received from him was dated Cairo, July 30th. In which he stated he had just returned from Australia having been sent back with a lot of undesirables, but so far we have had no information of him being at the Front in Battle, and we just ask you candidly, to let us know exactly what is really the matter with him.'

Brother-in-law wrote again, 16 December 1915: 'We are in receipt of a telegram that Private J.P. McCaffrey has been wounded at the Dardanelles, but we are anxious to know where he has been since April 25th to date. We have heard certain rumours that he has been in disgrace and as a Brother in Law, I am anxious to know the truth, and I appeal to you to furnish me with the information.'

Attached for duty with Headquarters, AIF Depots in the United Kingdom, 11 September 1916.

Admitted to Royal Herbert Hospital, 1 December 1916 (not yet diagnosed).

Married Mabel Florence TAYLOR, 25 February 1917.

Marched out to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 20 November 1917.

Proceeded overseas to France, 9 December 1917; rejoined 24th Bn, in the field, 17 December 1917.

Admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance, 23 January 1918 (pyrexia unknown origin); transferred same day to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station; rejoined Bn, 24 February 1918.

Wounded in action (second occasion), 21 March 1918 (gas); admitted same day to 5th Australian Field Ambulance, and transferred to 2nd Casualty Clearing Station; to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Boulogne, 24 March 1918; to England, 26 March 1918, and admitted same day to War Hospital, Croydon (gas poisoning). Transferred to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, 23 April 1918; discharged on furlough, 24 April 1918, to report to No 4 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 8 May 1918.

Marched in to Overseas Training Brigade, Longbridge Deverill, 24 June 1918. Transferred to Machine Gun Corps Details, Parkhouse, 1 July 1918.

Proceeded overseas to France, 12 September 1918; taken on strength, 1st Machine Gun Bn, 18 September 1918.

Marched out to England for return to Australia, 13 October 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Osterley', 11 January 1919; disembarked Melbourne, 24 February 1919, for onward travel to Brisbane; discharged, Brisbane, 2 May 1919.