Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Patrick Casey was born on 18 October 1891 at Balfour, the fourth son of Patrick and Ellen (née Cronin) Casey. His father died on 12 January 1897, aged 40 years, and was buried at Lumsden Cemetery. “Another of our most respected settler died last week. Mr P. Casey, of Balfour, a man who was truly and worthily respected by all who knew him. He suffered long, and bore his illness with great patience. He leaves a widow and a young family to mourn their loss.” [Otago Witness. 21 January 1897.] Their youngest child was not two years old. Ellen married William Groves in 1899. Patrick was educated at Balfour School, admitted only shortly before his father’s death and leaving in 1906 at the age of fifteen. In 1899 he received a Standard I prize. Perhaps he was the P. Casey who finished third in the boys’ race, under 12, at the Balfour and Longridge Caledonian Society’s annual sports on Boxing Day 1902. In the 1904 sports, he finished second in the Boys’ race, under 15 (200 yards), his brother Timothy finishing first. Also in 1904, Patrick and his youngest brother Michael were awarded first-class certificates at the Balfour Public School.

In 1914, both Patrick Casey, labourer, and William Casey, blacksmith, were residing on Sophia Street, Timaru. Patrick Casey and William Casey, both of Loburn, registered in the Kaiapoi group in mid-July 1916. He was medically examined on 29 July 1916. Patrick went on to enlist on 20 September 1916 at Trentham, as did William. He belonged to the Territorials 8th Southland Regiment and was still serving. A teamster at Loburn, he nominated his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Ellen Groves, Balfour, Southland. Patrick was probably home on final leave when he finished third in the One Mile Handicap at the 30th annual gathering of the Balfour and Longridge Caledonian Society’s annual sports on Boxing Day 1916. His brother William was the winner. Patrick won the 135 yards Consolation Race. Rifleman P. Casey and Lance Corporal W. Casey embarked for Plymouth, England, per the “Waitemata” on 19 January 1917, both with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Having marched in at Sling on 23 March 1917, he proceeded overseas on 28 May 1917. He was admitted to No. 50 Casualty Clearing Station, France, on 19 August 1917, sick, then rejoined his battalion on 14 September.

Less than three weeks later – on 4 October 1917 – Private Patrick Casey, 36316, was killed in action in the Field in Belgium. He was buried in the Open, near where he fell (Passchendaele). His name is inscribed on the Tyne Cot Memorial at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium. “Private Patrick Casey, reported killed in action on October 4, was the fourth son of Mrs Ellen Groves, Balfour. Born and educated at Balfour, he was 26 years of age. He was engaged on the relay gang of the Railway Department, and with his brother, Private William Casey, proceeded to the front with the 21st Reinforcements. Private William Casey was wounded on October 6. Deceased was a member of the Balfour Oddfellows’ Lodge and was a keen athlete. Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family.” [Mataura Ensign. 27 October 1917.]

At the annual meeting of the Southland District I.O.O.F, M.U. in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Mataura, on 13 March 1918, Bro. P. Casey, Loyal Balfour Lodge, was remembered in “the ever-increasing roll of our gallant dead. . . . . have given their lives for the sake of liberty, . . . .” He was amongst those so honoured at the 1919 annual meeting, also. By his Will, drawn up at the time of embarkation, Patrick Casey bequeathed all to his sister-in-law – Mrs Alice Mary Casey, C/o R. Winter, Wyndham, Southland, NZ. It was advised, in 1923, that his medals – British War Medal and victory Medal – should be handed to his beneficiary, Mrs Alice M. Casey, Balfour, Southland.

Patrick’s brothers, William and Daniel, served in World War One – William, a blacksmith, enlisting and embarking with Patrick, and Daniel, a blacksmith at St Andrews, who embarked a year earlier. Both were in France when Patrick fell. James Smith Daly, a son of Deborah Casey and nephew of William, Daniel and Patrick, served in World War Two. Timothy Casey, the third son of Patrick and Ellen, was drawn in the ballot in June 1918. Having started his working life as a blacksmith, he was then a railway employee at Lyttelton, married with two children. His son, Patrick William Casey, served in World War Two. Michael Casey, a farmer of Balfour, who was drawn in a World War Two ballot in 1941, may have been the youngest son of Patrick and Ellen Casey. Michael died in 1977 and was buried at Mosgiel with his nephew William Patrick Condon, the son of Mary Casey, alongside Mary and Thomas Condon. Mrs Ellen Groves (formerly Casey) died on 22 August 1929 and was buried with her husband Patrick at Lumsden.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [17 June 2024]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [14 June 2020]; School Admission indexes [17 June 2024]; Southland Times, 2 January 1900, 29 December 1904, Otago Witness, 21 January 1897, Press, 22 July 1916, Mataura Ensign, 27 December 1902, 29 December 1904, 28 December 1916, 27 & 31 October 1917, 14 March 1919, Southern Cross, 16 March 1918, 14 March 1919 (Papers Past) [17 & 19 June 2024]; NZ Electoral Rolls [13 June 2020; 17 June 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.