Patrick McCaffery was born in Co. Kildare inOctober 1842. His father was an asylum governor who, upon being cleared of charges of misconduct, took off alone for America. His mother was unable to support Patrick in Ireland, so she sent him to stay with a friend in the Lancashire mill town of Mossley near Manchester, England. At the age of 12 he started work at a local mill. He then moved to Liverpool, but after a few brushes with the police there he moved back to Mossley and found employment in a cotton mill in Stalybridge.

On October 10th, 1860 he took the Queen’s shilling and enlisted in the 32nd (Cornwall) Regiment of Foot Soldiers (Light Infantry). After enlistment he was sent to Fulwood Barracks to commence his training.

The 11th Depot Battalion at Fulwood was under the command of Colonel Hugh Crofton, and the Adjutant, Captain John Hanham. McCaffery didn’t like the rigid discipline and was soon in their bad books.

On Friday 13th September, McCaffery was on sentry duty when the Adjutant ordered him to take the names of some children who were suspected of breaking the mess windows, McCaffery reluctantly obeyed, but only took the name of one child. He was charged, the next day, with neglect of duty, and sentenced by Colonel Crofton to 14 days confined to barracks.

Later that day he saw the two officers walking across the Infantry Square, loaded his rifle and fired. The shot missed its mark, so McCaffery re-loaded and fired again. This time the bullet struck Colonel Crofton, and passing through his breast, hit Captain Hanham, and lodged in his spine. The Colonel died the next evening, and Captain Hanham two days later.

In December he was sent to trial at Liverpool Assizes, found guilty and sentenced to be publically hung. The hanging took place in front of thousands of sympathisers, but with only three or four soldiers in attendance.