Two local men, Sean Westerby and Ron Booth, decided to raise funds to replace the original stone, which was deteriorating badly, with a new headstone which would recognise John Caffrey as being a holder of the Victoria Cross. The fundraising was concluded successfully with the unveiling of a new headstone on the 23rd May 2007.

[ London Gazette, 22 January 1916 ], La Brique, France, 16 November 1915, Private John Joseph Caffrey, 2nd Bn, York & Lancaster Regiment.

For most conspicuous bravery on 16th November 1915 near La Brique. A man of the West Yorkshire Regiment had been badly wounded and was lying in the open unable to move and in full view of and about 300 to 400 yards from the enemy s trenches. Corporal Stirk, Royal Army Medical Corps, and Private Caffrey at once started out to rescue him, but at the first attempt they were driven back by shrapnel fire.

Soon afterwards they started again under close sniping and machine-gun fire, and succeeded in reaching and bandaging the wounded man, but, just as Corporal Stirk had lifted him on Private Caffrey's back, he himself was shot in the head. Private Caffrey put down the wounded man, bandaged Corporal Stirk and helped him back to safety. He then returned and brought in the man from the West Yorkshire Regiment.

He had made three journeys across the open under close and accurate fire and had risked his own life to save others with the utmost coolness and bravery.

John Caffrey was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 23rd February 1916.

It appears that Corporal Stirk received no official recognition for his part in the rescue, beyond being mentioned in the citation of Caffrey's award. In a way, Caffrey's deed was a repeat of an earlier act of heroism which earned him the Russian Cross of St George ( 4th Class ), awarded on the 25th August 1915 when he brought in a seriously wounded officer under heavy fire.

Medal entitlement of Lance Corporal John Joseph Caffrey - 2nd Bn, York & Lancaster Regiment

• Victoria Cross
• 1914 Star + clasp "5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914"
• British War Medal ( 1914-20 )
• Victory Medal ( 1914-19 )
• King George VI Coronation Medal ( 1937 )
• Cross of St George ( 4th Class ) ( Russia )