Collection of Campaign Medals awarded to Sergeant Robert O'Connor, Leinster Regiment, killed 31st July 1917 at the Third Battle of Passchendaele.Two Africa Campaign Medals: the 1900 Queens (Victoria) South Africa Medal with three bars and the 1902 Kings (Edward) South Africa Medal with two bars. Then three Great War Campaign Medals, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Allied Victory Medal. These are in possession of his grand-daughter, Ms Noreen Stewart, Eastbourne, England.

Robert O’Connor (1880-1917) was Sergeant with the Leinster Regiment and brother-in-law of Captain DD Sheehan MP (RMF). Born in Tralee Ireland, he joined the British Army at an early age and served in the South African Campaign, then with the Seaforth Highlanders before he transferred to the A Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Leinster Regiment (Service No. 9337) during World War I. He married when on home leave in Youghal, county Cork in April 1916, then met his death on 31st July 1917 during the Third Battle of Passchendaele. He has no known grave, but his name is commemorated on panel 44 of the Menin Gate Wall in Ypres, Belgium. His only son Robert (Bob) was born shortly after he was killed, in August 1917. He later became Sergeant in the Irish Army at the Collins Military Barracks, Cork and father of three daughters, Eleanor, Mary and Noreen.

Three medals with ribbons; Postcard from Southampton, 1909, from Patrick to his wife; Postcard with photograph of J. Smyth; Photographs of his discharge certificate; Character certificate (Army Form B, 2067); Ministry of Pensions document, 1920; Certificate of Discharge (Army Form B, 2079); War Office Records document, 1957, of service; Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document; Copy of photograph of Patrick with his wife and children || My grandfather, Sgt. Patrick Holland, was born in 1888 in Templemore, Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Before the war he was a groom although his Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document notes that he was a baker. He enlisted at Templemore on 10/12/06 at about 18 years of age. He married Lizzie in 1906 and they had two children. His Certificate of Discharge states that he trained in medical duties in Longmoor in 1908. There is some contradictions in his records with regard to when he moved from the Leinster Regiment to the 8th Hussars. The War Office document states that enlisted in the Leinster Regiment on 10/12/1906 and was transferred to the 8th Hussars on 01/03/1909. His Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document notes that he was in 8th Hussars from 10/12/1906 to 03/08/1914 and in 8th Hussars from 04/08/1914 to 30/04/1919. Presumably this is a mistake and it meant to note that he was in the Leinster Regiment from 10/12/1906 to 03/08/1914? There is a postcard from Southampton dated 1909, before he sailed for India. He served in India until 1914. His Pension Appeals Tribunal (Entitlement) document, however, states that he served in India from 04/08/1914 to 14/10/1914. I heard a story that when he was coming back from India, he thought he was coming home on leave but was sent to France. He served in France from 15/10/1914 to 6/03/1918 and in Egypt from 7/03/1918 to 15/03/1919. He was discharged in 1919. His discharge refers (dated 30/04/1919 in War Office document) to him being surplus to requirements and an impairment. I know he had malaria that was recurring. He had a silver war badge but I don't have that. He never spoke about his war. His nephew once asked him if he had met Lawrence of Arabia and he said yes. He was in a restaurant with a group when the table cloth got caught in a belt and took the table with it. An argument ensued with the restaurant owner and their superiors were involved. Lawrence was at the restaurant and defended the fact that it was an accident. My grandmother' s two brothers were also in the army. One died in Bombay. I am unsure who J. Smyth is in the photograph but it must be a relative? Patrick became a postman after the war in Templemore. He was called an auxiliary postman because he had no Irish. he died on 2 July 1968, aged 80. || || 3 Medals of Patrick Holland and ribbons. || Front || Patrick Holland || Medal || Medals of Patrick Holland || || Back || Patrick Holland || Medal || 3 Medals of Patrick Holland and ribbons. || Medals of Patrick Holland || || Southampton, England || Postcard to Mrs. Holland from Patrick sent before sailing from Southampton to India. || Postcard || Front || || Postcard || Back || Postcard to Mrs. Holland from Patrick sent before sailing from Southampton to India. || Southampton, England || || Postcard from J. Smyth, addressed Dear Mother. || Postcard from J. Smyth. || Postcard || J. Smyth || Front || || Postcard from J. Smyth, addressed Dear Mother. || Postcard || Back || Postcard from J. Smyth. || || Official document || Character Certificate || York, England || Patrick Holland || Back || Character Certificate of Patrick Holland detailing service in the 8th Hussars. || || Character Certificate of Patrick Holland detailing service in the 8th Hussars. || York, England || Patrick Holland || Official document || Front || Character Certificate || || Honorable discharge document of Patrick Holland || Honorable discharge document of Patrick Holland. || Patrick Holland || Official document || || 51.4865187,-0.17123109999999997 || Patrick Holland || Official document || Patrick Holland's Pensions Document || || War Office Document || Official document || York, England || Back || Patrick Holland || || Official document || Front || War Office Document || Patrick Holland || York, England || || Patrick Holland || Military Service Document outlining records of Patrick Holland. || Official document || Hayes, England || Military Service Document || || Pension Appeals Tribunal Document concerning Lizzie Holland (Patrick's Widow) || Pension Appeals Tribunal Document || Official document || Patrick and Lizzie Holland || || Photograph || Patrick Holland and family || Photo of Patrick Holland with his wife and two children