John was born in 1876 possibly in Ireland or in Manchester with parents Michael Gaffney and Anne Kelly.
He is thought to have married, in Manchester, Delia Leyland on 9 September 1906. They had four children of whom three survived (Delia however died in 1916).
Rank: Sapper
Regiment: Inland Waterways and Docks - Royal Engineers
Service Number: WR/319432
John was billeted in the Banavie Pier Railway Station which might suggest that he was working on the Caledonian Canal. He died on 9 October 1918 aged 42, at Corpach, Inverness-shire.
His death was not registered until 26 November 1918 so maybe his body was not found immediately. He had drowned in Loch Linnhe. Buried Kilmallie Old Churchyard. His next of kin was not known by churchyard authorities in 1927.
(Main photograph: Killmallie Old Churchyard - copyright: Find a Grave)
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