F. J. O'Leary

Major Frederick James O'Leary, M.C. and two Bars: a McGill engineering graduate (B.Sc. 1911) who enlisted in the Canadian Engineers in September 1914, served with the 53rd and 102nd Battalions and as officer commanding the 11th Brigade Light Trench Mortar Battery, then "held various staff positions," ending the war a major, twice mentioned in despatches. Brother of the diary's "Harry" O'Leary (Henry Brixton O'Leary): together the "Clan O'Leary."

In August 1918 he was the transport officer of the 1st Brigade, Canadian Engineers, named as such in the brigade's move orders Robertson kept: he was to pool the brigade's transport, guide the approach march, and hand billeting instructions to battalion commanders at the detraining point. The diary tracks the same work: "Out billeting with O'Leary" on July 31, and, on the opening morning of the Battle of Amiens, "O'Leary arrived … with orders to ditch surplus stuff & move forward to Gentelles Wood."

By October 1918 he is filling in at brigade headquarters: the 1st Brigade's Engineer Instructions of October 8, 1918, kept in the 3rd Battalion, C.E. war diary, are signed by him as "Captain, A/Brigade Major, 1st Brigade, C.E." (the ranks in these papers are the ones he held on the day; the McGill record has him a major by the war's end). He is at Vezin on November 27 in charge of the brigade's rear headquarters.