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.

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