- Surnames starting with the letter O. 

Thomas O'Connor

Rank:SergeantNumber:6146
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:04th Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:King's (Liverpool Rgt)
Died:04/07/1915Age:35
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:FranceGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy
Town Memorial:Altrincham
Extra Information:
Born - Thomas CONNOR on the 28th September 1879, the birth being registered
during the December quarter 1879 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/176.   
Son of Thomas & Maria O'Connor (nee Jennings) - married Sep Qtr 1873 -
Manchester R.D. - 8d/774.  Listed as Connor.   Baptised at the Church of
St. Vincent de Paul on the 12th October 1879.

1881 Census - 55 Chapel Street, Altrincham.  Family listed as "Connor".   
Son - aged: 2 - born: Altrincham.   Head of household  Thomas Connor -
Married - aged: 27 - Bricklater's Labourer - born: Ireland.   Also - Mary
Connor - Wife - aged: 27 - born: Ireland.   Plus 2 elder siblings and 1
Boarder.

1891 Census - 3 Lord Street, Altrincham.   Family listed as "Connor".   
Son - aged: 11 - Scholar - born: Altrincham.   Head of household - Thomas
Connor Married - aged: 36 - Labourer - born: Cillewin, Co. Galway, Ireland.
   Also Maria Connor - Wife - aged: 36 - born: Claremorris, Co. Roscommon,
Ireland.  Plus 3 siblings.

1901 Census - Serving in the Army in Dublin.
His parents were now residing at 6 King Street, Altrincham.  Still listed
as "Connor".  Thomas - aged: 53 & Maria - aged: 50, plus their son John
aged: 14.

1911 Census - King's Liverpool Regiment, Orford Barracks, Warrington,
Lancashire.   Sergeant - aged: 31 Unmarried - born: Altrincham.   Listed as
O'Connor.

Still listed as Thomas CONNOR, he married Julia Foy at the Church of St.
Vincent de Paul on the 12th October 1912, the marriage registered during
the December quarter 1912 in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/368.  Julia was
born at Nantwich in 1878 - daughter of Peter & Annie Foy and was employed
as a Machinist at the Linotype Works.

WO363 - Enlisted at Manchester on the 2nd August 1898.   Aged 18 years 3
months and employed as a Groom/Driver.  Religion given as Roman Catholic.  
Promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on the 19th December 1898 and to
Corporal on the 28th April 1899.

Posted to Londonderry on the 6th September 1899, then to Dublin on the 19th
January 1899.   Admitted to hospital at Dublin on the 4th February 1900
until the 29th March 1900 suffering from Gonorrhea.   Admitted again from
the 9th December 1900 until the 12th January 1901 for the same infection.  
 Promoted to Lance Sergeant on the 1st February 1901 and four days later
signed up for another 7 years service at Fermoy on the 5th February 1901   
At Dublin, on the 16th August 1901, he was charged with two offences - (1)
Neglect of duty when in charge of "Company Missing" book. - (2)
Overstamping his permit pass to 7.45 am.   Severely reprimanded on the 17th
August 1901.    Promoted to the rank of Sergeant on the 1st October 1901.

Posted to South Africa on the 7th November 1902 and awarded the Queen's
South Africa Medal plus 2 clasps - "Transvaal 1901" and "Transvaal 1902".  
  From South Africa he was posted to India, to Rangoon on the 26th November
1902, to Wellington on the 22nd April 1903, Neemuoh on the 15th October
1906 and to Nasirabad on the 5th June 1907.   Whilst at Nasirabad he was
charged with - Fighting in the Sergeants Mess at about 11.30 pm and
severely reprimanded.    Whilst there, he signed up there for another 12
years service on the 2nd August 1908.     His total service was then - 10
years 55 days.

Stationed at Warrington, Lancashire on the 9th November 1910.  Convicted at
Liverpool Police Court, Dale Street, Liverpool, on the 11th October 1911,
found guilty of disorderly behaviour in Moss Street, whilst drunk.   Fined
10/- plus 3/6d costs or 7 days in prison.      On the 26th January 1912 he
was charged with (1) Drunkenness - (2) Ill treating a soldier.   Reduced to
the ranks on the 6th February 1912.    One month later - on the 8th March
1912, then aged 32 years 7 months, he applied for a discharge from the Army
- he had, by then, completed 13 years 219 days service - quoted as being of
good character, his discharge was approved at Fermoy on the 11th March
1912.

Home service       02/08/1898 to 20/10/1901 - 3 years 80 days.
South Africa        21/10/1901 to 06/11/1902 - 1 year 11 days.
India                     07/11/1902 to 09/11/1910 - 8 years 3 days.
Home service      10/11/1910 to 13/03/1912 - 1 year 125 days.
Total Service       13 years 225 days.

Thomas & Juia had a daughter - Kathleen O'Connor who was born on the 22nd
October 1914 - Prestwich R.D. - ref: 8d/589 - registered as Kathleen
O'CONNOR.     By the 19th June 1912, Mrs. Julia O'Connor was residing at 17
Old Elm Street, Stockport Road, Ardwick Green, Manchester.

Mobilised at Seaforth on the 5th August 1914, aged 32 years 7 months and
posted to the 3rd Bn. Liverpool Rgt.   Height 5 feet 5 1/2 inches - chest
41 inches with a 3 inch expansion - Fresh Complexion - Brown eyes and brown
hair.   Employed as a Groom and residing at 61 Chapel Street, Altrincham.  
Promoted to the rank of Corporal again on the 3rd September 1914 and to
Acting Sergeant on the 16th February 1915.     Drafted to France on the 1st
May 1915.   

Death reported in the 27th July 1915  edition of the Altrincham Guardian.  
 By the 8th November 1915 Mrs. O'Connor was residing at 130 Upper Conran
Street, Harpurhey, Manchester.

On the 25th April 1922 - Mrs. O'Connor wrote to the W.O. asking for
information to enable her to locate his grave, as the CWGC were unable to
find any trace of it.     She states that she has in her possession a
letter from the W.O. dated the 5th May 1916, stating that he was buried
behind the trench near to Hoggs Hole, Neauve Chappelle, France.     Also, a
letter from Adjutant N.C. James of the same Company, 4th Bn, who states
that he was present when her husband was buried and states that he was
buried near the Bn. H.Q.      The W.O's reply was to the effect that their
burial report states that he was indeed buried behind the trench near to
Hoggs Hole - ref: N34/887.

On the 27th January 1916 Mrs. O'Connor was receiving a pension of 18/- per
week for herself and their daughter Kathleen.   By the 25th July 1919, Mrs.
O'Connor was residing at 52 Chapel Street, Altrincham - his father was
deceased, but his mother - Maria O'Connor, aged 70, was residing at 2
Islington Street, Altrincham.    His brothers and sisters were:- Mary -
aged: 45;  Ceilia - aged: 43;  Michael - aged: 38 and John - aged: 34.

Thomas O'Connor is listed in the street directories as living at No. 29 -
perhaps his widow moved to Broadheath after he was lost.

The local newspaper states that he lived at Upper Conrad St, Harpurhey and
"that he belonged to Altrincham", and that he was Kia at Neuve Chappellle.

The Battle of Neuve Chappelle actually took place in the three days 10th to
12th March 1915.   There are three CWGC Cemeteries much closer to Neuve
Chappelle than Guinchy.

Section 4 of the Guards' Cemetery at Windy Corner, Guinchy was a
'consolidation' cemetery and filled with men whose remains had been brought
in from neighbouring battlefields after the armistice.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1916.

M.I. - "May his rewards be as great as his sacrifice.  R.I.P.".

See also "The Bravest Little Street in England" by Karen Cliff, Trafford
Local Studies Library.

Memorials found on:
Chapel Street (Altrincham)
Altrincham & District Roll of Honour
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