O'CONNOR, Walter Leonard
| Service Numbers: | 1076, S177 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 January 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Recruit Reception and General Details Depot (S.A.) |
| Born: | Meningie, South Australia, 20 January 1896 |
| Home Town: | Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive engine cleaner (S.A.R.) |
| Died: | Natural causes, Wallaroo, South Australia, 21 November 1992, aged 96 years |
| Cemetery: |
Wallaroo Cemetery, S.A. General Section Plot 1136 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide South Australian Railways WW1 & WW2 Honour Boards, Murray Bridge Roll of Honour WW1, Tailem Bend Roll of Honor to Loco Employees Murray Bridge |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1076, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1076, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 1076, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
| 7 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 1076, 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 16 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 1 May 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 3rd Pioneer Battalion | |
| 28 Jun 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 12 Aug 1918: | Wounded Second Lieutenant, 42nd Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", GSW (left foot) | |
| 20 Nov 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 44th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Jun 1940: | Enlisted S177 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Captain, S177, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA), Wayville, South Australia | |
| 4 Nov 1946: | Discharged Captain, S177, Recruit Reception and General Details Depot (S.A.) |
Help us honour Walter Leonard O'Connor's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"Military Medal. SGT. W. L. O'CONNOR, M.M.
Sgt. W. L. O'Connor, who was recently awarded the Military Medal, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice O'Connor, of Meningie. Prior to his enlistment he was in the clerical division of the S. A. Railways Department, and by his geniality, uprightness, and unassuming ways, won many friends. Lieut. Marnden (officer in charge of his battalion), in a letter dated August 21, stated:-
"Wallie O'Connor won the Military Medal at the Messines fight for consistent good work and bravery under heavy fire. He deserved it thoroughly, and I can tell you he has turned up trumps. No granting of an honour has given so much satisfaction. His boys swear by him, and his officers cannot say too much for him. He is as cool as a cucumber under the heaviest fire, and I can tell you it has been heavy. With it all, Wallie remained as unassuming as ever." - from the Adelaide Observer 10 Nov 1917 (nla.gov.au)
Biography
Medals: Military Cross, Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA: 1889 - 1931) Wednesday 7 November 1917
ON ACTIVE SERVICE.
Sergeant W. L. O'CONNOR, who was recently awarded the Military Medal, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice O'Connor, of Meningie. Prior to his enlistment, Sergeant O'Connor was in the clerical division of the Railways Department, and by his geniality, uprightness, and unassuming ways, won a host of friends. Lieutenant Marnden (officer in charge of his battalion), in a letter dated August 21, says:-"Wallie O'Connor won the Military Medal at the Messines fight for consistent good work and bravery under heavy fire. He deserved it thoroughly, and I can tell you he has turned up trumps. No granting of an honor has given so much satisfaction. His boys swear by him, and his officers can't say too much for him. He is as cool as a cucumber under the heaviest fire, and I can tell you, it has been heavy. With it all Wallie remains as unassuming as ever."
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5569988
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