Sergeant Martin O'Meara

image: H12763 image: H12763
Photograph H12763
Service number 3970
Ranks Held Private, Sergeant
Birth Date 1885-12-31
Birth Place Ireland: Munster, Tipperary, Lorrha
Death Date 1935-12-20
Death Place Australia: Western Australia, Perth
Final Rank Sergeant
Service Australian Imperial Force
Unit 16th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes Biographical information They dared mightily. in 1963
Published in London Gazette in 1916-09-09
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1916-12-14
Description

Born in Ireland, Martin O'Meara (1885-1935) came to Western Australia as a young man and worked as a labourer and sleeper-cutter before enlisting in 1915. During the fighting at Pozières, he displayed a total disregard for danger, repeatedly going out into no man's land to rescue wounded men and to carry up ammunition. He did this for four days.

O'Meara returned to Australia in 1918, but his war service, during which he had been wounded on three occasions, had taken its toll and his health broke down. He spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital.

Collection items

    Media


    Portrait of 3970 Private Martin O'Meara, VC of the 16th Battalion. Private O'Meara was a Forward ...

    PORTRAIT OF 3970 PRIVATE MARTIN O'MEARA, VC 16TH BATTALION.

    PORTRAIT OF 3970, PRIVATE MARTIN O'MEARA OF I6TH BATTALION, AIF. PRIVATE O'MEARA, A FORWARD ...

    Informal outdoors portrait of Private (Pte) Martin O'Meara VC, 16th Battalion. Pte O'Meara was ...

    Informal outdoor portrait of 3970 Private (Pte) Martin O'Meara being congratulated by fellow ...

    Object


    Rising Sun collar badge : Private M O'Meara, 16 Battalion, AIF

    Document


    Wallet 1 of 1 - Letters from Albert Jacka relating to his wounding at the Battle of Pozières and recommendation for the Distinguished Service Order, ...

    Letters received by Field Marshal Lord William Birdwood, 1 June 1916 – 25 December 1916

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 31 December 1885
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 19 August 1915 16 Battalion.
Date of enlistment 19 August 1915
Date of embarkation 22 December 1915
Date of honour or award 1916-08-09 - 1916-08-12 Awarded Victoria Cross for action at Pozieres, France whilst serving with 16 Battalion, 4 Brigade, 4 Division as a Private.
Date wounded 12 August 1916 Wounded in action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Date of recommendation honour or award 16 August 1916
Date wounded 1917-04
Date wounded 1917-08
Date promoted 13 March 1918 Appointed Corporal.
Date promoted 30 August 1918 Appointed Sergeant.
Date returned to Australia 15 September 1918
Date of discharge 30 November 1919 Discharged in Perth.
Date of death 20 December 1935

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