Patrick Joseph ‘Paddy’ Roche was born in 1885 in Ireland, the son of William and Ellen Roche, of Cork.

Paddy was educated at Blackrock College for Boys, then studied Engineering at Queen’s College, Cork.

He played Gaelic football, but turned to running, joining the Knockrea Athletic Club in 1905. He won the 220 yards event at the Gaelic AA Championships in 1906, and competed in the Irish AAA Championships, winning both sprints in 1907 and the 100 yards again in 1908-09.

During the IAAA 100 yards title he twice equalled the national record, beating six-times winner Denis Murray in the final. Roche also won the 110 y for Ireland vs. Scotland three times in 1907, 1908 and 1910, missing the 1909 event due to illness.

Paddy competed in the London 1908 Summer Olympics, reaching the semi-final of the 200 metres but just losing out to George Hawkins. Soon after, he won the 220 yards in the match between the Irish AAA and the Irish-American athletes in Dublin.

Paddy applied joined the Indian Civil Service, and after World War I broke out, served with the Indian Army Reserve Officers, attached to the 1st King George’s Own Sappers and Miners, Royal Engineers (India). He was gazetted for a Military Cross (MC) for showing exceptional courage while on active service.

He died on 25 August 1917 of enteric fever (typhoid) whilst serving in Baghdad and was buried in CWGC Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq.