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William Loftus Cassidy

Portrait - No known copyright restrictions

Portrait - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

  • Title
  • Forenames
    William Loftus AWMM
  • Surname
    Cassidy AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • South African 5307 AWMM
    • South African 521 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    1862 AWMM DerryDonegal AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
  • Campaign
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    • South African 5307 AWMM
    • South African 521 AWMM
  • Military service
    Otago Hussars AWMM
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    Hospital Diseases , Wounds, South Africa AWMM
    Malaria and dysentery AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • William Loftus Cassidy was born in Dongal Ireland, 4th son of Rev Frederick and Martha Cassidy (Nee Hamilton).

    On 22 January William who was in the Armed Constabulary married Kate Wagstaff at Hawera. They gave their usual residence as Opunake. Their daughter Alice Beryl (known as Beryl) was born on 28 November 1884. Later Mrs Kate Cassidy lived in Manaia where she was a stationer, and died on 16 May 1937.

    William left Kate and had been 5 years in the Otago Hussars when he enrolled in 1900. On 8 April 1909 as Loftus Cassidy he married at Wanganui Annie Louisa Merritt. They were both living at Rangiwaea near Taihape. She had a daugher Phyllis on 20 September 1909 at Taihape. He pleaded guilty in the Wanganui Supreme Court on 21 September 1909 to bigamy "with extenuating circumstances", and was sentenced to 12 months in New Plymouth gaol, but probably did not serve it.

    An account in the Wanganui Herald dated 19 July 1938, DCM, quotes a veteran who says that Sergeant Cassidy by riding about under fire, and making a demonstration, cleverly suggested to the enemy that the supporing force was much larger than it actually was.

    He was also awarded the Humane Society medal for rescuing an officer, Lieutenant Findlay from drowning while the troops were fording the Hartbeast River at Kenhart Cape Colony. The Lieutenant was washed away by the current, and at great risk Private Cassidy went to his help and with much difficulty succeeded in landing him. AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    • Waikaraka Cemetery, 1 Alfred Street, Onehunga, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
    • Waikaraka Cemetery AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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Sources

Sources

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