O'CONNOR, Luke
Sergeant. 23rd Regiment *
London Gazetted on 24th February 1857.
Born on 21st January 1831 at Elphin, County Roscommon, Ireland.
Died on 1st February 1915 at London.
Memorial on grave at St Mary's Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Rise, London. Also a portrait in the Royal Horse Fusiliers Museum, Caernarfon.
Digest of Citation reads:
At the Battle of Alma, in the Crimea, on 20th September 1884, Sergeant O'CONNOR advanced between two officers, one of them, Lieutenant Anstruther, was carrying the Regimental Colour when he was mortally wounded, Sergeant O'CONNOR was shot in the breast at the same time, he fell, but recovered himself, picked up the Colour from the ground and carried it, in spite of his wound, to the end of the action. He was urged to relinquish it several times, because of his wound, by Captain Granville. He also, on the 8th September, 1855 behaved with utmost gallantry at the assault on the Redan where he received shot wounds through both thighs.
* Royal Welch Fusiliers.
Additional information:. He joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1849, aged 17, becoming a Sergeant the following year. In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the Crimean Medal with two clasps, the Sardinian and Turkish Medals as well as the Turkish Medal of Medjidie, 5th Class. He received the Victoria Cross from her Majesty Queen Victoria at the ceremony in Hyde Park on 26th June 1857. He was promoted to Lieutenant in February 1855, promoted Captain in August 1858, and in 1873 to Major. He took part in Sir Garnet Wolseley's Campaign to Kumasi, after which he was made a Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, along with the Medal and clasp. He took command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers on 24th June 1884..
In 1886, with the rank of Colonel, he went on half pay.
After being granted the Distinguished Service Reward, he retired as a Major-General on 2nd March 1887.
He was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1900 and a Knight Commander of the Bath in 1913. He died, at the age of 84, after suffering for some time, on 1st February 1915.

ODGERS, William
Leading Seaman. Royal Navy.
London Gazetted on 3rd August 1860.
Born on 14th February, 1834 at Falmouth, Cornwall.
Died on 20th December, 1873 at Saltash, Cornwall.
Memorial not known.
Digest of Citation reads:
Leading Seaman Odgers of HMS Niger showed conspicuous gallantry, at 0mata in New Zealand on 28th March 1860, when a party of Naval officers, Seamen and Marines, from his ship, stormed a pass during operations against rebelling Maoris. He was the first person to enter the pass under extremely heavy fire, assisting in the hauling down of the enemy colours.
Additional information:. He later became a Quartermaster in the Coast Guard Service.

O'HEA, Timothy

O'KELLY, Christopher Patrick John
Captain. 52nd Battalion. Manitoba Regiment. Canadian Expeditionary Force.
London Gazetted on 11th January 1918.
Born on 18th November 1895 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Died on 15th November 1922 at Lac Seul, Ontario, Canada.
Memorial on grave at Lac Seul, Ontario, Canada.
Digest of Citation reads:
At Passchendaele in Belgium, on 26th October 1917, Captain O'Kelly led his company with extraordinary skill and determination. After the failure of the original attack and two companies, that belonged to his unit, had launched an attack, Captain O'Kelly advanced over 1000 yards with his command under extremely heavy fire, not being covered by an artillery barrage and took the enemy posts situated at the crest of the hill by storm. Captain O'Kelly organised his men and led them in a series of attacks against enemy pillboxes. His company captured six pillboxes, 100 of the enemy and 10 machine-guns. Later, during the afternoon, Captain O'Kelly, again leading his company, repelled a fierce enemy counter attack, during which they took more prisoners. During the night he and his company captured a hostile raiding party consisting of one officer, 10 men and a machine-gun. The success of these actions was due mainly to the magnificent courage, daring and capability of Captain O'Kelly.
Additional information:. Major O'Kelly also held the Military Cross (MC).

O'LEARY, Michael
Lance-Corporal. 1st Battalion Irish Guards.
London Gazetted on 18th February 1915.
Born on 29th September 1888 at Macroom, Inchigeela, County Cork, Ireland.
Died on 2nd August 1961 at London.
Memorial on grave in Paddington Cemetery, Mill Hill, London.
Digest of Citation reads:
When forming one of the storming party at Cuinchy, France, on the 1st February 1915, which advanced against the enemy barricades, Lance-Corporal O'Leary crossed to the fore and alone killed five Germans who were holding the first barricade. He went on to attack a second barricade, 60 yards further along and after killing three of the enemy, captured it and took two prisoners. By his action, he practically captured the enemy positions by himself, he also prevented the rest of the attacking party from being fired upon by the enemy.
Additional information:. Major O'Leary also held Cross of the Order of St George, Third-Class of Russia. He was mentioned in Despatches twice, in 1914 and again in 1915. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant in the Connaught Rangers.
Michael O'Leary had been in the Royal Navy before joining the Irish Guards. After serving seven years he left for Canada. Here he joined the Royal Canadian North-West Mounted Police
At the outbreak of the European War (WW I) he rejoined the Irish Guards. By November 1914 he held the rank of Lance-Corporal and was serving in France.
He served in the Second World War from 1940-44 with the Middlesex Regiment and with the Pioneer Corps from 1944-45

OLPHERTS, William
Captain. Bengal Artillery.
London Gazetted on 18th June 1858.
Born on 8th March 1822 at Dartrey, County Armagh, Ireland.
Died on the 30th April, 1902 at Upper Norwood, London.
Memorial on grave at Richmond Cemetery, Surrey.
Digest of Citation reads:
For highly distinguished Conduct when the troops penetrated into the City of Lucknow, India on the 25th September, 1857 having charged in on horseback with the 90th Regiment, headed by Colonel Campbell. They captured two guns in the face of heavy enemy grape fire, and having returned to bring up limbers and horses in order to carry off the captured equipment had galloped in under severe heavy musketry fire, he succeeded.
Captain Olpherts was elected under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant by his fellow officers.
Additional information:. General Sir William Olpherts was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (GCB). In 1888 he was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery.
More to be added.

O'MEARA, Martin

O'NEILL, * John
Sergeant. 2nd Battalion. Prince of Wales Leinster Regiment.
London Gazetted on 26th December 1918.
Born on 11th February 1897 at Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Died on 16th October 1942 at Hoylake, Cheshire.
Memorial on grave at the Holy Trinity Churchyard, Hoylake, Cheshire.
Digest of Citation reads:
For most conspicuous bravery on 14th October 1918, near Moorseele, Belgium, when his company's advance was checked by two enemy machine-guns and a field battery that was firing over open sights. Leading a charge consisting of himself and 11 men against the battery, they captured four field guns, two machine guns and took 16 prisoners. On the 20th October 1918 Sergeant O'Neill and one other man charged an enemy machine-gun position, routing approximately 100 of the enemy and causing many casualties. Throughout these operations he showed the most outstanding courage and powers of leadership.
* or O'NIELL.
Additional information:. Lieutenant John O'Neill also held a Military Medal (M M), and the Médaille Militaire of France. During the Second World War he served in the Pioneer Corps.

ONIONS, George
Lance-Corporal. 1st Battalion. Devonshire Regiment.
London Gazetted on 14th December 1918.
Born on 2nd March 1883 and Bilston, Staffordshire.
Died on 2nd April 1944 at Birmingham.
Memorial unknown.
Digest of Citation reads:
Having been sent out, with another man, to contact the Battalion on the right flank on 22nd August 1918 at Achiet-lePetit, France, Lance-Corporal Onions observed the enemy advancing in great numbers. At once, realising the opportunity, he placed himself and his comrade on the flank of the advancing enemy, and when the target was most favourable opened with rapid fire against them. At 100 yards, the enemy line wavered and several hands were seen to be raised in surrender. With the assistance of his comrade, Lance-Corporal Onions took approximately 200 prisoners, returning with them to his company commander.