O'CONNOR, Thomas Raphael
(Service number 36479)
| First Rank | Rifleman | Last Rank |
|---|
Birth
| Date | 03/10/1896 | Place of Birth | Seadown |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | Age | 19/20 yrs 11 mths | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | |||
| Occupation | Farm hand | ||
| Previous Military Experience | |||
| Marital Status | Single | ||
| Next of Kin | Mrs Mary SUGRUE (sister), Seadown, Canterbury | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed Forces | Served in | Army |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | New Zealand Rifle Brigade | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | Reinforcements G Company | ||
| Date | 19 January 1917 | ||
| Transport | Waitemata | ||
| Embarked From | Wellington | Destination | Plymouth, England |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | |||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | British War Medal (1914-1920); Victory Medal | ||
Award Circumstances and Date
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As a stretcher-bearer during one of our attacks, he distinguished himself by the courage and self-sacrificing devotion with which he attended to the wounded in exposed positions under heavy fire. His very gallant conduct saved the lives of many men, and set an example that was the admiration of his comrades. (London Gazette, 21 Oct 1918; p. 12392)
Prisoner of War Information
| Date of Capture | |
|---|---|
| Where Captured and by Whom | |
| Actions Prior to Capture | |
| PoW Serial Number | |
| PoW Camps | |
| Days Interned | |
| Liberation Date |
Death
| Date | 12 August 1944 | Age | 49 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | |||
| Cause | |||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Temuka Cemetery | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | |||
Biographical Notes
Son of Michael James O'CONNOR & Mary DOWER (Minnie). Brother of James Joseph O'CONNOR, killed in action 9 June 1915 at Gallipoli. Thomas returned to New Zealand in mid February 1919 in draft 213. Thomas is named on the Seadown honours board (Returned) which was unveiled in a ceremony at the school in August 1920.
Sources
Cenotaph Database [18 August 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5549 0087738) [August 2013]; Family history (www.helensfamilytrees.com/allg195) [18 August 2013]; TDC Headstone image Temuka Cemetery [18 August 2013]; Timaru Herald, 14 February 1919, 21 August 1920 (Papers Past) [06 & 16 September 2014]
External Links
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