Peter O'Hare likeness

Peter O'Hare cap badgeCorporal Peter O'Hare

1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Service No: 30338

Peter O'Hare grave

1767

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of Peter O'Hare (1874 - 09/11/1951) and Rose Ann Mead O'Hare (08/10/1880 - 20/11/1952) of 10c Bank Lane, Langloan, Coatbridge. Peter's cousin Private Charles Mead of the 12th (Service) Battalion Royal Scots was Killed in Action on the 25/04/1918. From the 1901 Census - Address - 7 Buchanan St, Coatbridge - Peter's grandmother Rose Mead aged 55, boarders Edward Burns aged 30, Philip McColl aged 20, Patrick McGunigal aged 19, Peter's mother Rose Ann O'Hare aged 19, Peter O'Hare aged 5, Peter's sister Rose Ann O'Hare aged 1, Peter's aunt Mary Gillon aged 23, Peter's cousin John Gillon aged 1. Peter had 8 more sisters and 2 brothers, Mary Elizabeth O'Hare born 22/01/1901, Elizabeth O'Hare (1902 - 16/10/2011), Mary (Mollie) O'Hare born 17/07/1905, Sarah (Sadie) O'Hare born 05/03/1908, Catherine (Katie) O'Hare born 29/10/1910, Margaret (Maggie) O'Hare (05/02/1911 - 1996), James O'Hare (20/02/1915 - 08/09/1979), Monica O'Hare (11/11/1917 - 17/11/1999), Alice O'Hare (21/12/1919 - 12/03/1984) and Mark O'Hare (14/01/1923 - 27/04/1977). Peter's Pension was awarded to his mother Rose.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 10c Bank Lane, Langloan, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 09/10/1918 during the Liberation of the Village of Clary (part of the pursuit to the Selle and Battles of the Hindenburg Line)

Enlisted

Coatbridge 1915

Employed

Langloan Iron Works.

Age

21 / DOB - 01/10/1897

Buried / Remembered

Highland Cemetery (XI. C. 1), Le Cateau, Nord, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

After the Battle of Le Cateau (26 August 1914), the town remained in German hands until the middle of October 1918. The original cemetery (Plot III) was made by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division after the fighting of 17 October; the name of Highland Cemetery is suggestive at once of the comparatively high ground on which it stands and of the 32 graves of the 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion, Black Watch, found in this plot. The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves of October and November 1918 were brought in from isolated positions on all sides of Le Cateau. Highland Cemetery now contains 624 First World War burials.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre as Lines of Communication troops on the 15/08/1914 aboard the S.S. "Caledonia" and were part of the 19th Brigade, 33rd Division when Peter fell. Peter was Killed just 8 days after his 21st birthday as the German Army were in retreat all along the line. He fell along with 13 comrades as the Battalion liberated the village of Clary. This was part of the pursuit to the Selle which was a part of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, 12th September - 12th October 1918 : A series of very large-scale offensive operations that advance to and break the Hindenburg Line system. Carried out by the First, Third and Fourth Armies these victories rank among the greatest-ever British military achievements. The German Army fights on but it is increasingly clear that their ability to do so is declining fast. SEE PHOTOS x 12 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY FOR OCTOBER 1918. Peter's Battalion famously refused to play football, or otherwise fraternise with the enemy, on Christmas Day in 1914. According to the Advertiser on the 02/11/1918 Peter had been a distinguished student at the Coatbridge Technical School (he is NOT listed on their Roll of Honour). See Directory for Peter's cousin Private Charles Mead's page. Peter is listed as PRIVATE on the Coatbridge Memorial. He was formerly with the Highland Light Infantry (27189). On the 100th Anniversary of Peter's death the Village of Clary in France held a ceremony dedicated to Peter and 13 of his comrades who fell liberating the Village. Peter's nephew Peter Flanagan and his great niece Iris McCann were the only relatives of the 14 to attend the ceremony after the Cameronians Family Association couldn't trace any of the other relatives. They were presented with the French Medal of Honour posthumously awarded to Peter. See photos for pics of the ceremony, Peter's Medal and Newspaper articles. This information was kindly sent to me by Peter's relative Philip and a family extremely proud of this brave young man and also thanks to Iris for the family information and Jim Millar (Peter's nephew) for the mention of the Plaque in Clary and its replica presented to Hamilton Low Parks Museum, his support regarding the website and finally an extract from a letter sent from the trenches by Peter to his Mum on Boxing Day 1917. It mentions his "old pal" Pat Croal who was Killed in Action in November 1917 (see photos and Directory for Patrick Croal's page). Grave photo donated by Mick McCann at britishwargraves.co.uk. Peter is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church and St. Augustine's Churches (books) Rolls of Honour. Peter was reburied in the Highland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Peter's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 4, another 2 photos of Peter's Grave, his CWGC Grave Registration, his Headstone Report x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, the Highland Cemetery, his previous Regiment the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge, the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge, Peter's Pension Records x 2 and the Pursuit to the Selle map which shows the liberation of the Village of Clary.

Photos
Peter O'Hare Medal Index CardPeter O'Hare newspaper clippingPeter O'Hare newspaper clippingPeter O'Hare newspaper clippingPeter O'Hare remembered at homePeter O'Hare remembered at homePeter O'Hare remembered at homePeter O'Hare remembered at homePeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photoPeter O'Hare additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

Comments
What a wonderful tribute to the memory of all the 14 young men of The Cameronians (Sottish Rifles) who gave their lives to liberate Clary, and in particular to my great-uncle Peter O'Hare. Peter was the brother of my granny Roseanne (Cissy) O'Hare and is mentioned in one of Peter's letters home. I had the privilege to attend the Centenary Ceremony in Clary, France , in 2018, with cousin Peter Flanagan and his daughter-in-law Fiona. It was an honour for us to share in that memorable ceremony, to represent the wider family, and to receive the Medaille D'Honneur. We were also able, thanks to the benevolence of our Clary hosts, to go to the Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, and pay our respects at the graveside of Peter O'Hare; a very moving experience. Thank you John.
Iris McCann , Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland, 12/11/2020 4:01PM
Thanks John for doing this. I can assure you it's greatly appreciated by all our family. Peter was my Uncle and we are all extremely proud of him . The ceremony in Clary was a great honour for him and the other young men who died liberating the town . Just one thing I notice in your report that only one member of the family was able to be present at the ceremony in France . There were in fact two as my cousin Peter Flanagan, (Peter's nephew) was also present with Iris McCann his Great Niece when they were presented with the Medal of Honour on behalf of the family. As I said in a previous comment I think you are doing a wonderful job in doing what you are doing and I have no doubt it means a great deal to families in the town who lost relatives in this conflict. It certainly does to mine. Thank you once again.
Jim Millar, Motherwell, 25/05/2019 12:57PM

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