Honouring Australian World War One Personnel
Name - Lawrence John Gaffney
Rank - Private
Official Number - 1665
Enlistment Date - 1st December 1915
Regiment - “B” Company, 55th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWWOD descendant - Aydan Casey
Service Detail - A carpenter by trade, Jack enlisted as a 17 year old in Wagga Wagga on 1 December 1915 and marched to Sydney with the Kangaroos recruiting march. Jack embarked on 14 April 1916 just three days after his 18th birthday and served continuously on the Western Front until Wounded in Action when a bullet ricocheted off his rifle and shattered his jaw during the battle of Hamel on 4 July 1918.
He returned to Australia on 20 February 1919 and died on 17 July 1972 at a private hospital in Bexley. Jack was survived by 4 children, 16 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.