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Major O Leary VC recipient 3 / Stamp
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Major O Leary VC recipient 3 / Stamp
MAJOR MICHAEL JOHN O LEARY VC (1890 - 1961) Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces
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Media ID 4413942
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10434081
1961 Brave Bravery Gallantry Leary Major Oleary Prestigious Recipient Stamp
EDITORS COMMENTS
This striking photograph captures the strong and resolute gaze of Major Michael John O'Leary VC, an Irish hero of the British Army during World War I. Born in 1890 in County Cork, Ireland, O'Leary joined the Royal Munster Fusiliers in 1909 and distinguished himself in battle early on, earning the Military Cross in 1915 for his bravery during the Second Battle of Ypres. But it was during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 that O'Leary would earn the highest military honor, the Victoria Cross (VC). On July 3, 1916, while leading his company in an attack on the German lines, O'Leary was severely wounded but refused to be evacuated. Instead, he continued to lead his men, rallying them and inspiring them to press on despite heavy enemy fire. In doing so, he saved the lives of many and enabled the successful capture of the German stronghold known as "Mametz Wood." Despite his wounds, O'Leary refused to leave the battlefield until all of his men were safely withdrawn. He was eventually evacuated to a hospital, where he recovered and returned to duty. O'Leary's bravery and selflessness earned him the Victoria Cross, the most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was presented with the medal by King George V at Buckingham Palace in 1917. Tragically, O'Leary was killed in action during the Battle of Arras on April 12, 1918. He was just 27 years old. This photograph, taken some years before his death, serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of Major Michael John O'Leary VC, an Irish hero whose legacy continues to inspire us today.
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