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Cambrai Memorial: An officer found, then lost

Caulfield 1

2nd Lieutenant Gordon Caulfield of the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry lost his life on 30 November 1917 when the Somersets were overwhelmed in la Vacquerie valley. More than two weeks later, as men of the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers, fought desperately to stop the German counter-attack, they found Caulfield's body. The Battalion war diary for that day reported:

South of Marcoing. German post stormed by our patrol at 5pm. Gunner bayoneted and machine gun captured; ... Lieutenant Caulfield, 7th Somersets, buried by our Battalion.

The location of Caulfield's burial was lost in subsequent fighting and he is listed among those whose last resting place is unknown. He is commemorated at the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, on Panel 4.

Cambrai 2

The following information is sourced from the website Clifton Rugby Football Club History http://www.cliftonrfchistory.co.uk/ memorial/WW1/caulfield.htm.

Gordon Caulfield was born on 25 February 1885 at Classa, Coachford, County Cork, Ireland. His grandfather, John Caulfield, held the office of High Sheriff of County Roscommon, Ireland in 1826. The family is descended from the Viscount Charlemont of Donamon Castle, County Roscommon, Ireland and are listed in Burke's Peerage. The family has a long tradition of military careers.

His father, Captain John Caulfield, was J.P. for County Cavan and had served in the 41st Foot (Welch) and as Captain 90th Foot, 98th Light Infantry and 108th Foot. Following a famous murder case involving their governess and a local doctor, the family moved to Midsomer Norton, near Bath, around 1890. John died on 12 December 1892 in Yalta, Silchester Road, Kingstown, County Dublin.

Gordon's mother was Theresa Eliza Stafford Caulfield (nee Caulfield, his parents were distant cousins). After the death of John Caulfield she married Thomas Hennessy on 29 March 1897 at Colchester Register Office, Essex. She died on 3 May 1911 at 1 Kingsway Mansions, Hove, Sussex.