On the 11th of the 11th let us remember Martin OMeara - Irish Victoria Cross Winner Martin O’Meara (1885-1935), sleeper-cutter and soldier, was born on 6 November 1885 in the parish of Lorrha, Tipperary, Ireland, son of Michael O’Meara, labourer, and his wife Margaret, née Connor. He arrived in Western Australia as a youth, having worked his passage as a stoker. Giving his occupation as sleeper-hewer, he joined the Australian Imperial Force in Perth on 19 August 1915 and left Australia with the 12th Reinforcements for the 16th Battalion in December. After training in Egypt in early 1916 the battalion moved to the Western Front in France where it fought on the Somme. On 9-12 August the 16th mounted an attack on German positions at Mouquet Farm near Pozières. Devastating German artillery fire caused heavy casualties, an entry in the battalion war diary on 12 August stating laconically that ‘the trench as a trench had ceased to exist’. Between 9 August and 12 August 1916 at (Mouquet Farm) Pozières, France, during four days of very heavy fighting, Private O’Meara repeatedly went out and brought in wounded officers and men from “No Man’s Land” under intense artillery and machine-gun fire. He also volunteered and carried up ammunition and bombs through a heavy barrage to a portion of the trenches which was being heavily shelled at the time. Stretcher-bearers worked to exhaustion, usually exposed to fire, carrying men to the aid posts close behind the front line. During this period O’Meara, then acting as a stretcher-bearer, behaved in a manner which led one officer to describe him as ‘the most fearless and gallant soldier I have ever seen’. O’Meara was wounded three times during the war and returned to Australia on 15 September 1918, having reached the rank of sergeant. he war took a terrible toll on his physical and mental wellbeing and he spent the remainder of his life in military hospitals. He died in Claremont Mental Hospital, Perth, on 20 December 1935. His death certificate gave his occupation as ‘returned soldier’. He was buried with full military honours in Karrakatta Catholic cemetery in Perth Western Australia. The oration at his graveside was given by fellow Tipperaryman, Fr John Fahey. The Australian-Irish Heritage Association of Western Australia in association with Peter Murphy, Noel ONeill and Peter Murphy and planning a special event for Martin OMeara in March 2014. There is a play and also songs written for the event. If you want to know more or would like to support the project please email Fred Rea [email protected] LEST WE FORGET
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 06:40:54 +0000
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