b. 17/08/1892 Fulham, London. d. 28/03/1918 Arras, France.
Bernard Matthew Cassidy (1892-1918), was born on 17th August 1892 in Fulham, London. His father, also Bernard, was originally from Castlereagh, County Roscommon, Ireland. He married Julia Butler in December 1889 in Manchester. She was originally from Cashel, County Tipperary. Bernard senior was a carpet dealer in 1891, and by 1911, his family were living in Canning Town, Essex. Bernard junior would later describe him as a traveller (drapery) when applying for a commission in 1917. Bernard was one of seven children.
Bernard was educated at St Margaret’s School, Barking Road, London. In 1911 he was an insurance clerk and was later employed as manager of the counting house for Glyn & Son, hat manufacturers of Chiswell Street, London.
Bernard M Cassidy VC
Bernard enlisted in the Irish Guards on 16th May 1916 and was promoted to lance corporal whilst serving with No 1 Company, 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Warley Barracks, near Brentwood, Essex. He applied for a commission and was posted to No 7 Officer Cadet Battalion at Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland with his brother John on 5th May 1917. He was commissioned into Lancashire Fusiliers on 29th August 1917 and went to France on 28th October.
On 28th March 1918 at Arras, France, at a time when the flank of the division was in danger, Second Lieutenant Cassidy was in command of the left company of his battalion. He had been given orders to hold on to the position at all costs and he carried out this instruction to the letter. Although the enemy came in overwhelming numbers he continued to rally and encourage his men, under terrific bombardment until the company was eventually surrounded and he was killed.
Sadly, his body was never recovered following the battle, and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the Missing. His posthumous VC was announced in the London Gazette on 3rd May 1918, and the medal was presented to his mother, Julia, on 26th June 1918 at Buckingham Palace by King George V. He is also commemorated with Cassidy Street in Canning Town named after him, and has a VC commemorative stone at The Cenotaph, East Ham, unveiled on 28th March 2018.
In addition to the VC, he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20 and Victory Medal 1914-19. The VC was purchased privately by Lord Ashcroft in 2002.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.
BURIAL PLACE: NO KNOWN GRAVE – ON ARRAS MEMORIAL, FRANCE. BAY 5
Acknowledgement:
John Patterson – Image of his replica VC group at the Lancashire Fusiliers Museum, Bury.