His grand-daughter, Theresa McTiernan, has submitted the following:
Matt Duffy, the eldest of ten children, was born in 1886 to Matthias and Elizabeth Duffy of Marley Hill, Whickham, County Durham . He was a coal miner driver living at the Waggon Inn, White le Head, when he met and married Agnes McCabe in 1912. They went on to have three children, one of whom died in infancy.
Matt was a war-time volunteer who joined as a Territorial soldier and joined the Royal Engineers in 1914. After training he was posted to the 477th Field Company Royal Engineers, part of the 50th (Northumbrian) Division, and crossed to France to join them on 27th August 1915. He served with them in Flanders at Ypres, and along the Messines sector in 1915-16. In August 1916 he moved down to the Somme, taking part in operations near Martinpuich, Eaucourt and Le Sars. He then moved up to the Arras front, and took part in the fighting at Wancourt and Cherisy between April and July 1917.
He was killed during a trench digging operation near Cherisy on 14th July 1917, aged 31 years. He is buried in Heninel Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.
Matt was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.
Details from the battalion War Diary of 447th Field Company Engineers for the 14th July 1917: 'with Lieut. T. Foster & 4 Sappers started out a traversed trench for a new Front line in front of BULLFINCH SUPPORT between DEAD BOSCHE SAP & BYKER SAP. It rained very heavily and was pitch dark. The carrying party of 12 OR [Other Ranks] gave considerable trouble & returned on sighting a patrol of 7 (which turned out to be one of our own) & took half an hour to collect & get out again in front of our trench being sapped out. 459385 Sapper Duffy, M was killed and 459622 Sapper Carlin, J & 459152 L/Cpl. Ankell, J. wounded, the former severely & the latter slightly & remained at duty.'
He was cousin to Sergeant Matthias Duffy
Matthias Duffy is remembered at Dipton on D46.06 at Leadgate on L65.01 and at Burnopfield on B155.01
