John Casey was working as a cheesemaker at Waikaka when he enlisted at Milton in 1914. He suffered a serious wound to an arm during the August offensive on Gallipoli. He recovered to rejoin the Otago Infantry Regiment and moved with them to France.
The Supreme Sacrifice. — Of our young men who left here for the front, we have just received word of our first casualty. John Casey, a fine young fellow, who left with the Main Force, and died in France of pneumonia. He went through the Gallipoli campaign, was wounded, but afterwards rejoined the forces. Much sympathy is felt for Mr and Mrs Casey, who have two other sons now in France. -Otago Witness, 7/6/1916.
The chapter of the Official History which covers the day that Patrick Casey died during the Battle of the Somme is titled "A Bitter Experience." I have not found which Company he belonged to and the following, from the Official History, is only possibly the experience of Patrick:
The two leading Companies, 14th and 4th, valiantly endeavoured to press on against this hail of fire; but it was only a question of distance when they were literally swept away by it. Every officer and almost every man became a casualty. The 8th Company, following in rear, now advanced into the breach. With equal gallantry the endeavour to reach Gird Trench was renewed, only to find that the protecting wire in the low lying ground was uncut. Here the attack withered away, and the few survivors, the remnant of three shattered Companies, took refuge in the shell-holes. A few of our men, joining up with the 1st Battalion of Auckland on the right, had succeeded in reaching Gird Trench.
Those who died in the attack were buried where they lay when the survivors were able. The location of Patrick's remains is unknown.
Fortrose Cemetery.
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