O'CONNOR, Michael
(Service number 6/1071)
| First Rank | Private | Last Rank |
|---|
Birth
| Date | Unknown | Place of Birth | Hazelburn |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | Age | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | Cricklewood | ||
| Occupation | |||
| Previous Military Experience | 2nd S.C. Regiment of Territorials | ||
| Marital Status | Single | ||
| Next of Kin | J. O'CONNOR (father), Cricklewood, Canterbury | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed Forces | Served in |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | Main Body | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | Canterbury Infantry Battalion | ||
| Date | 16 October 1914 | ||
| Transport | Tahiti or Athenic | ||
| Embarked From | Lyttelton, Canterbury | Destination | Suez, Egypt |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | |||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | |||
Award Circumstances and Date
No information
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 | 16 September 1967 | Age | 76 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | |||
| Cause | |||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Karori Cemetery, Wellington | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | |||
Biographical Notes
Sixth son of Patrick O'CONNOR and Catherine nee KEANE, of Cricklewood. One of the first of the Mackenzie County men to enlist at the outbreak of the war. Michael left Timaru with the Infantry Contingent by the first express on 17 August 1914 after parading at the Drill Shed and being addressed by Archdeacon Jacob, who trusted God would guide and protect them, and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr W. A. Pearson), who said that all must "feel very proud to see that so many of the young men had volunteered to serve their country in this the greatest crisis they had ever known." and he wished them God speed and a safe and speedy return. His brother Patrick Martin (Martin) O'CONNOR served in the South African War. In 1914 Martin was seriously hurt in the accident in which Colonel Hayhurst lost his life. Another brother Thomas died in December 1914. His brother William Louis O'CONNOR also served in WWI. Michael was educated at Hazelburn and Cricklewood schools. In 1924 Michael married Annie FRIEL whose brothers also served in WWI.
Sources
Cenotaph Database [05 August 2013]; Timaru Herald, 18 August 1914, 17 May 1915, 18 May 1915 (Papers Past) [19 November 2013; 13 December 2013; 12 September 2014]; Wellington City Council burial records & headstone image (Karori Cemetery) [13 April 2014]
External Links
Related Documents
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Currently Assigned to
TS
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