Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Victoria Cross - Sergeant Martin O'Meara

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Overview

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for acts of bravery in wartime. It was instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria and made retrospective to 1854 to cover the period of the Crimean War. It is possible for any serving member of the armed forces to obtain this award.
The decoration is a bronze cross pattée, 41 mm high, 36 mm wide, bearing the crown of Saint Edward surmounted by a lion, and the inscription "for valour" . The decoration, suspension bar, and link weigh about 27 grams. The cross is suspended by a ring from a seriffed "V" to a bar ornamented with laurel leaves, through which the ribbon passes
The ribbon is crimson, 38 mm wide. Although the army warrants state the colour as being red, it is defined by most commentators as being crimson or "wine-red".

Historical information

Martin O’Meara was born in the parish of Lorrha, Tipperary, Ireland, on 6 November 1885. After immigrating to Western Australia as a youth, O’Meara worked as a railway sleeper cutter. O’Meara joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 19 August 1915, leaving Australia in December 1915 to join the 16th Battalion. After joining the 16th Battalion in Egypt for training, the Battalion was transferred to the Western Front. O’Meara was awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions between 9–12 August 1916 during the Battle of Pozieres.
O’Meara’s VC citation reads:
For most conspicuous bravery. During four days of very heavy fighting he repeatedly went out and brought in wounded officers and men from "No Man's Land" under intense artillery and machine gun fire. He also volunteered and carried up ammunition and bombs through a heavy barrage to a portion of the trenches, which was being heavily shelled at the time. He showed throughout an utter contempt of danger, and undoubtedly saved many lives.'
Shortly after O’Meara’s return to Australia in 1918, he suffered a mental breakdown and was admitted to hospital. He remained in institutional care until his death in 1935.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99.301

Inscriptions and markings

. The reverse of the suspension bar is engraved with the recipient's name, rank, number and unit. On the reverse of the medal is a circular panel on which the date of the act for which it was awarded is engraved in the centre. Each Victoria Cross is unique in that the medal is cast and hand finished including a secret identifying mark. O’Meara’s medal has a further distinction. Because it was never mounted, it still retains the original presentation clasp which allowed it to be hooked onto his uniform at the time of investiture.

Contextual Information

O’Meara left an unusual will, drafted in 1917, which included comprehensive directions for the custody of his VC. O’Meara directed that, should the provisions of his will not be met, the VC should be handed over to the 16th Battalion Association. Since the intended recipient of the VC, a Miss Mary Murphey Dangan, could not be found, the VC was presented to the 16th Battalion Association in 1940. Around 1980, the VC was transferred to the Army Museum of Western Australia, Fremantle, WA, to ensure the medal could be appropriately secured and displayed.

Links to additional resources

Loan of Martin O'Meara's VC to National Museum of Ireland

Service Summary

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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