Andrew Charles Vahey

Lance Cpl South Wales Borderers 41641

Died: 11-04-1918 age 18

Andrew was the second child of Edward and Mary Ellen Vahey. Edward was a regular soldier who had been born in Lymm, Cheshire. Mary Ellen had been born in Birkenhead, as were Andrew and his elder brother Edward. Shortly after Andrew's birth in 1900 the family moved to Great Budworth, Cheshire, where younger brother Robert was born, and then to Tarvin where the remaining children of the family, Kathleen, Frederick and Dennis, were born.  By this time Edward had retired from the army and was working as a War Office messenger. All the children were still at school. The family would have been part of St Werburgh's parish whilst living in both Budworth and Tarvin.

Because Andrew's enlistment papers have not survived, we know little of his army service. We only know that he was first with the Territorial Reserve Battalion and later transferred to the South Wales Borderers. His date of death and age at death, both raise doubts about his stated age on enlistment, which should have been at least 18 years.

Andrew was buried in Grave P.VII.K.4A. St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

His name is also listed on the Great War Memorial in Chester Town Hall. Andrew's medal roll card indicates that he was entitled to the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal.

Andrew's mother died in 1919, and his father in 1945. Both were buried in Overleigh Cemetery, Grave R687. Their address at that time was stated as Short Place, off Garden Lane, Chester.