Frederick Peter McCaffrey enlisted in the Permanent Military Forces (PMF) in Fremantle, Western Australia on 7 April 1923. He served in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, and was selected for the Australian Coronation Continent in 1937. On 1 June 1939 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2. Warrant Officer Class 2 McCaffrey volunteered for service overseas on 22 February 1941 and was assigned to the Australian Independent Company and served with the Heavy Battery Rabaul (Coastal Battery) in Rabaul until being reported as missing (believed to be prisoner of war) on 25 July 1942. Warrant Officer Class 2 McCaffrey was officially reported as deceased on 16 October 1942 but was later determined to have died in Rabaul on 1 July 1942.