Laurent Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 M.J O'Leary 1st Irish Guards won first Victoria Cross on February 1, 1915 near Cuinchy. From Victoria Cross reference: "Lance-Corporal O'Leary was one of the storming party which advanced against the enemy's barricades. He rushed to the front and killed five Germans who were holding the first barricade, after which he attacked a second barricade 60 yards further on. This he captured after killing three of the enemy and taking two more of them prisoner. The lance-corporal thus practically took the position by himself and prevented the rest of the attacking party from being fired upon". See trench map V.C localisation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 1 February , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carninyj Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 I'm sure the experts will know all this but for those who do not, here's a chance to meet the man. O’Leary 'was born on 29 September 1890', at, Macroom, Co. Cork, 'the third of four children born to Daniel and Margaret O’Leary'. … He served in the Navy, but was invalided out ... suffering from rheumatism of the knees. According to the article, he went back to Cork and worked as a farm labourer, believing that it would effect a recovery. On 2 July 1910, he volunteered for the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, but three years later, he emigrated to Canada and there joined the North West Mounted Police. Michael O’Leary had returned to Britain when WW1 started and 'immediately rejoined his old regiment on 22 October 1914'. He fought in the battles of late 1914, and became a Lance-Corporal on 5 January 1915. On 31st January 1915, ' the enemy captured some trenches near the village of Cuinchy. The British planned a counter-attack …. It was led by troops of the Coldstream Guards, with the “Micks” in support'. It was his deeds in this action that ‘Mick’ O’Leary got the 'Victoria Cross and promoted to the rank of Sergeant'. Thereafter, O’Leary made a tour of Ireland and was greeted with enthusiasism Later that year, on '22 June 1915, he was commissioned into the Connaught Rangers' and fought with the 10th Irish Brigade at Salonika. He ended the war with the rank of temporary captain and 'married Miss Greta Hegarty of Ballyvourney, the marriage producing seven children, six sons and one daughter'. The family returned to Canada and he joined the Ontario Province Police, serving until 1925. He then crossed into the USA. He settled in Michigan and joined the Michigan Central Police Force. Soon after, however, he 'returned to England, where he gained employment as Head Linkman at the Mayfair Hotel in the West End of London'. He rejoined the army at the start of World War II, 'serving with the Middlesex Regiment and later the Pioneer Corps, holding the rank of major'. He eventually dismissed on 'medical grounds in 1945' after it was discovered he had diabetes. He earned his living in London as a builder until he retiring in 1954, the year after his wife had died. He remained in London until his death at the 'Whittington Hospital, Highgate, on 2 August 1961. He was buried in Paddington Cemetery, Mill Hill, London, and is commemorated by a name on a memorial in the cemetery'. The full article appeared in Issue 17, Battle Lines, Journal of the Somme Association. Mr Denis Pillinger; the Staff of Belfast Central Library (Newspaper Library Section), and the Irish Guards R.H.Q. provided the information. Regards Carninyj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 In the 1950s,whilst @ Primary School,,in a Small Essex Village;it was amazing,judging by the lack of Historical Knowledge that Todays Children apparently dont have,that, Virtually ALL boys of my Peer group knew of Michael O'Leary & his Heroic action & we were all Familiar with the Stanley L.Wood ,War Illustrated Illustration of him Kneeling ,Lee Enfield @ the Shoulder,Creeping towards The German Trench,Its Occupants All "Hande' Hoch" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Laurent, Where do you get your trench maps? Since I am visiting the are in the spring, I'd love to get my hands on some of the areas. Are they generally available? Thanks, Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurent Posted 1 February , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Laurent, Where do you get your trench maps? Since I am visiting the are in the spring, I'd love to get my hands on some of the areas. Are they generally available? Thanks, Andy Not available in France, but you could find this map (the same) on trenches maps CDROM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 These Ballymena men get everywhere!!! I wonder if this guy was 'spoofing'? Private Samuel Boyd, Ballyreagh, Clough, of the Irish Guards, who was home recently after being treated for wounds received at the front, claims to have been an eyewitness of the deed that won Sgt. Michael O’Leary of that Regiment, the Victoria Cross. Ballymena Observer, October 22, 1915 Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 you could find this map on trenches maps CDROM. Sorry, I am not familair with the CDROM. Is there a company that produces them? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Andy It is Naval & Military Press. Same people who do SDGW and similar for WW2. They produce a couple of trench map disks. See here (click CD-ROM at top) http://www.naval-military-press.com/FMPro?...ameset.htm&-new Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 In the 1950s,whilst @ Primary School,,in a Small Essex Village;it was amazing,judging by the lack of Historical Knowledge that Todays Children apparently dont have,that, Virtually ALL boys of my Peer group knew of Michael O'Leary & his Heroic action & we were all Familiar with the Stanley L.Wood ,War Illustrated Illustration of him Kneeling ,Lee Enfield @ the Shoulder,Creeping towards The German Trench,Its Occupants All "Hande' Hoch" I remember that picture from my Grandfather's 13 volume WW1 books. He was shown kneeling in front of an 08 MG covering the crew. Volume 3 if I recall right. Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Ciggie card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desmond7 Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 and ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Thanks Terry. I did a search on the site and found the CDROMs. Just curious, since the VAT seems pretty high, is this something I could pick up at the museum store? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 Andy The VAT will be at the standard 17.5%. This is not payable outside the EU and so it would be cheaper to get it from the States rather than get it in the UK. I assume their site is sophisticated enough to delete the VAT on sales outside the European Union. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andigger Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 The VAT will be at the standard 17.5%. Standard 17.5!! They advertise 18% on the site. I've enever purchased anything large enough over the internet to know what the procedure is regarding the VAT. If its deducted, or your just SOL. I have been through the little window at the airport to get my money back, thats why I thought it might be easier at the museum. I'll look into though. However 85 quid at this exchange rate it does take a lot of thinking about. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 I think Naval & Military Press is taking USD at $1.50 to the L to counter its terrible weakness and get US business and no VAT when shipping to US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carninyj Posted 1 February , 2005 Share Posted 1 February , 2005 The man himself, Michael 'Mick' O'Leary. Regards Carninyj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 8 February , 2005 Share Posted 8 February , 2005 There is a chapter on O'Leary VC in Salient Points Three, part of an excellent series of books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 29 April , 2005 Share Posted 29 April , 2005 Shame the pics aren't back on this thread - but is this about the same man. Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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