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The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 14th August…… Mathias O’Mara was born in 1884 at Heidelberg, Victoria.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 8th March, 1915 as a 31 year old, single, Jockey from Perth, Western Australia.

On 16th March, 1915 Mathias O’Mara was transferred from No. 12 Depot Company (recruit training) to 16th Company, Army Service Corps (A.S.C.) with the rank of Driver.

Driver Mathias O’Mara, Service Number 6344, embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on 22nd May, 1915 with the 6th Infantry Brigade Train, 16th Company Army Service Corps.

On 4th January, 1916 Driver O’Mara disembarked at Alexandria from Mudros (assuming after evacuation of Gallipoli).

He was absent from Camp at Ismalia from 10pm on 19th February, 1916 till 5 pm on 21st February, 1916. He was awarded 3 days Field Punishment No. 2 & forfeited 6 days’ pay.

Driver O’Mara was admitted to 7th Field Ambulance on 5th March, 1916. He was transferred to 5th Field Ambulance with Bubo at Moascar on 6th March, 1916 then transferred & admitted to No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Ferry Post the same day with Bubo & Chancre. Driver O’Mara was transferred & admitted to No. 1 Australian Stationary Hospital at Ismalia on 7th March, 1916 with V.D.G. & Bubo (Venereal Disease – Gonorrhea & Bubo – an enlarged lymph node that is tender and painful – particularly in the groin & armpit). Driver O’Mara was transferred & admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Abbassia on 7th March, 1916. He was discharged to duty on 20th March, 1916 & joined Overseas Base at Ghezireh the same day. He had a loss of pay of 15 days.

On 29th March, 1916 Driver O’Mara was transferred from Overseas Base to Serapeum. He was admitted to No. 3 Australian General Hospital at Cairo on 29th March, 1916 – cause N.Y.D. (not yet determined). Driver O’Mara was discharged to Overseas Base on 3rd April, 1916.

He was admitted to No. 2 Australian Stationary Hospital at Tel-el-Kebir on 7th May, 1916 with Balantitis & was discharged on 13th May, 1916.

Driver O’Mara was A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) from 06.00 to 19.30 on 21st June, 1916 while posted at Park House, Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. He was absent from 06.00 Parade on 21st June, 1916 & was awarded 4 days Field Punishment No. 2.

[Note:There are no details recorded in the Service Record file to show when Driver O’Mara was transferred to England]

He was written up for causing a disturbance in hut at 11 pm on 1st July, 1916 & using obscene language to an N.C.O.. He was awarded 4 days Detention.
From 24.00 on 17th July, 1916 to 10.15 on 18th July, 1916 Driver O’Mara was A.W.L. (Absent without Leave) while posted at Larkhill, Wiltshire. He forfeited 2 days’ pay.

Driver O’Mara was marched in from A.S.C. (Army Service Corps) detachment at Larkhill to No. 4 Camp Training Depot, Parkhouse, Wiltshire on 22nd August, 1916.

He was listed as an Absentee from No. 4 Camp Training Depot, Parkhouse, Wiltshire from 24.00 on 27th August, 1916 to 08.45 on 1st September, 1916. He was awarded 8 days detention & forfeited 13 days’ pay.

On 30th September, 1916 Driver O’Mara was admitted to Delhi Hospital, Wiltshire. (date of discharge not recorded)

Driver O’Mara was written up for an Offence at Perham Downs – Absent without Leave from 24.00 on 30th December, 1916 until 12.00 on 8th January, 1917. He was awarded 9 days Detention by Lieutenant Colonel A. Duble & forfeited a total of 18 days’ pay.
He was written up again for an Offence at Perham Downs – Absent without Leave from 24.00 on 27th January, 1917 to 07.00 on 3rd February, 1917. He was awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 by Major M. E. Lloyd on 8th February, 1917 & a total forfeiture of 35 days’ pay.
On 8th March, 1917 Driver O’Mara was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital, Wiltshire, England. He was transferred to 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England on 3rd April, 1917 & was reported to be seriously ill with Tuberculosis.

A Medical Report was completed on Driver Mathias O’Mara on 20th April, 1917 while a patient at 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield. His age was listed as 33 years & his former occupation was Barman & Clerk. Driver O’Mara’s disability was recorded as Tubercular Disease of Larynx & Lungs (no T.B. demonstrated). The disease had originated on 8th March, 1917 while he was posted at Perham Downs. The disability was caused from Exposure & infection while on Active Service & was listed as a permanent disability. The Medical Board found on 1st May, 1917 that Driver Mathias O’Mara should be discharged as permanently unfit for General & Home Service.

He was discharged from 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield on 3rd July, 1917 & embarked from England on Hospital Ship Karoola on 3rd July, 1917 for return to Australia as he was suffering from T.B. Disease Larynx and Lungs.

Driver Mathias O’Mara died on 14th August, 1917 at Sea on board Hospital Ship Karoola from Tubercular Laryngitis. A total of 1 Officer & 6 Other Ranks died on the voyage from Melbourne to UK & UK to Melbourne on Hospital Ship Karoola – Period 25th April, 1917 to 27th August, 1917. Lieutenant Colonel T. G. Wilson, No. 1 Australian Hospital Ship Karoola, listed Driver M. O’Mara’s cause of death as Pulmonary Phthisis.

Although it is not recorded anywhere on his Service Record file, Driver Mathia O’Mara would have been buried at Sea. He is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England as he has no grave, along with 167 other WW1 Australians. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/m---o.html