Name

Samuel O'Hara.

Description

Sergeant Samuel O'Hara.

Life Story

Name: Samuel O'Hara.

Service Number: 5353.

Rank: Sergeant.

Battalion: 2nd Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: 8th May 1885, Belfast.

Died: 13th May 1916.

Address: 11 Arnon Street, Belfast

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Samuel O'Hara, son of James and Mary Ann O'Hara, lived with his wife Elizabeth and children at 11 Arnon Street, Shankill, Belfast

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The 1901 Ireland Census has Samuel living at 29.1 Abbey Street, Belfast with his mother, father, occupation, Dock Labourer, two brothers, William, 14 years, Millworker Machine Boy, Edward, 3 years, and two sisters, Lizzie, 11 years, and Maggie, 5 years. Aged 16 years, Samuels occupation at this time is given as Millworker Machine Boy

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Samuel and Elizabeth O'Hara had four children, their names and dates of births are the following, Samuel born 27th January 1909, Elizabeth born 15th August 1912, Mary born 7th November 1913, Margaret Ann born 10th of April 1915

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Samuel joined the Royal Irish Rifles.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the1st July 1915.

Samuel was a Sergeant within C Company 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed In Action on the 13th May 1916 aged 31 years

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A local newspaper states.

Intimation is to hand that Sergeant Samuel O'Hara, Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action on the 13th ult. Deceased leaves a wife and family, who reside at 11 Arnon Street, and his mother lives at 12 California Street, Belfast

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Another newspaper had mentioned Samuel within an article concerning his brother

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Mrs O'Hara No 12 Lower California Street, Belfast, has been notified by the War Office that her son, Rifleman William O'Hara, 2nd Batt, Royal Irish Rifles, was killed in action at Hill 60 on the 7th inst. Deceased has a brother, Sergeant O'Hara, 4th Batt, R.I. Rifles, serving with the colours

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Samuels Soldiers Effects were left to his wife.

A Pension Application Form shows his widow as claimant.

Dependant Pension Application Forms show both his father and wife as claimants. Elizabeth had also claimed on behalf of the children when applying

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See brother also: 5818 Rifleman William O'Hara 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.

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Samuel received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1915 Star.

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He is Remembered at Ecoivres Military Cemetery Mont-St.Eloi, France.

To Remember Is To Honour

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