Harry O'Leary
One of the O'Leary brothers of the old McGill Union crowd, scattered about the 1st Division: the "Clan O'Leary" of the diary. This is Henry Brixton O'Leary (McGill Arts 1911–14, Applied Science 1913–15), appointed a lieutenant in the 64th Battalion, C.E.F., on October 13, 1915, later a captain, twice wounded, mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. He first appears in the diary in late 1916 (visited "in the mud" among "the other stokers" on November 8, met billeted "in the next street" on December 24, down to lunch on December 29), recurs through 1917 (with Knox on January 31; the "premature" that "greatly worried Harry," February 17), turns up in a September 1917 letter to the McGill Daily's readers still "flourishing," and is in to tea on April 3, 1918 "on his way up from the base." His brother, Capt. F. J. O'Leary, M.C., the 1st Brigade C.E. transport officer, has a separate page; the diary's bare "O'Leary" of the Amiens move (out billeting on July 31 and bringing the forward-move orders on August 8, 1918) is that brother, not this one.
Appears in the diary · 5 entries
1916
- 8 November 1916… d. – All day parties shifted to front line save VINCENT ST. – It’s a mess. – Wallowed around in the mud & visited Harry O’Leary & the other stokers. – Called on Col. Clark & found B. Gen Tuxford in – All very chatty t …
- 24 December 1916Divine service in one of the mine buildings. Met Harry O’Leary – They are billeted in the next street to us. – Had a topping bath at the mine. – After w …
- 29 December 1916Stormy – Rain. – No parade, so had Sadie cut my hair. – Had lunch with Harry O’Leary. Nothing doing this aft but a muster parade. Walked down to Barlin with Bull + as he had …
1917
- 31 January 1917Cold. Stayed in this morning. – Harry O’Leary & Knox were in this aft. Saw Myers & Tommy Hodgson before calling on the CO & found that …
1918
- 3 April 1918… ve. – The M.M.G. Bde. get quite a write up in the papers. – They deserve it. – Anti-conscription riots in Quebec. Harry O’Leary in to tea on his way up from the base. – Heavy strafe tonight