Martin O'Meara
Private, 16th Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 945 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Private all Privates →
- Unit
- 16th Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force (register: 16th Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 9–12 August 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 5th September 1916 on this day → all of 1916 →
- Born
- the 31st of December 1882 at Curcragha, Terryglass, County
- Died
- 20th December 1935 at Claremont, Perth, Western Australia
- Memorial / grave
- at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth and also on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
Between the dates 9th/12th August 1916, during the four-days of very heavy fighting at Posieres, France, Private O'Meara repeatedly went out into No-Man's-Land under intense enemy artillery and machine-gun fire to bring in wounded officers and men. He volunteered and carried ammunition and bombs through, an extremely heavy enemy barrage, to an area where the trenches were being heavily shelled by the enemy. His action, throughout this period, where he showed an absolute disregard for any danger for himself undoubtedly saved many lives
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
O'MEARA, Martin. (reg No. 945).
Private. 16th Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 5th September 1916.
Born on the 31st of December 1882 at Curcragha, Terryglass, County Tipperary, Ireland.
Died on 20th December 1935 at Claremont, Perth, Western Australia.
Memorial on grave at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth and also on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: Between the dates 9th/12th August 1916, during the four-days of very heavy fighting at Posieres, France, Private O'Meara repeatedly went out into No-Man's-Land under intense enemy artillery and machine-gun fire to bring in wounded officers and men. He volunteered and carried ammunition and bombs through, an extremely heavy enemy barrage, to an area where the trenches were being heavily shelled by the enemy. His action, throughout this period, where he showed an absolute disregard for any danger for himself undoubtedly saved many lives.
* South Australia and West Australia Battalion.
Additional information:. Private Martin O'Meara (Army No. 3970) had been employed as a Sleeper Layer on the Australian railway prior to joining the Army.
Additional information
Private Martin O'Meara (Army No. 3970) had been employed as a Sleeper Layer on the Australian railway prior to joining the Army.
* South Australia and West Australia Battalion.
Tipperary, Ireland.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth and also on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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