Patrick O’Connor was born on February 5, 1924, the son of James Philip O’Connor (born in Oil Springs, Ontario) and Angela Loretta (nee Barry, born in St. Mary’s, Perth, Ontario) O’Conner, residing at 356 Cameron Street, Sarnia at the time of his death. Patrick had three brothers–James Michael Barry (born 1919); John Edward (born 1923); and Joseph Peter (born 1932)–and had two sisters: Mary Catherine (born 1921, later Mrs. Lloyd Mathers) and Margaret Lorraine. At the time of Patrick’s death, the oldest brother in the family, James Michael Barry, had lost his life in WW II, as a member of the RCAF (see above).

Patrick O’Connor was born and raised in Sarnia. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic parish, Sarnia, and was educated at Our Lady of Mercy School and St.Patrick’s Catholic High School, graduating in 1941. He was a veteran of World War II, serving four and a half years with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, as a Stoker 1st Class. It was while patrolling the Atlantic that Patrick received word that his brother James Barry was missing in action with the Royal Canadian Air Force. James Michael Barry O’Connor was killed when his Halifax aircraft failed to return from a night operation on April 28, 1943.

One of the ships that Patrick O’Connor served on during WWII was the Royal Canadian destroyer, H.M.C.S. Gatineau (H61), dubbed one of the “seagoingest” ships in the Canadian service. The ship had been tagged with this nickname because since being commissioned by the RCN in June of 1943, it had spent more than 80 percent of her time at sea. Among the crew during that time were local men Stoker Patrick William O’Connor; Seaman Petty Officer A. Horley (son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Horley of 131 John street, Sarnia); Able Bodied Seaman Arthur Forbes (of Forest); and Able Bodied Seaman A. Whitmarsh (of Dresdan). By August of 1944, the Gatineau had spent months carrying out convoy sweeps, anti-submarine patrols, forays with the enemy, strenuous rehearsals for D-Day and patrol operations in the English Channel during the assault on France. The Gatineau’s experiences during that time included the probable destruction of an enemy E-boat in the English Channel, “assists” in successful attacks on two U-boats and the shooting down of a number German robot bombs (V-1’s). Lieutenant Commander Harold Groos said it was likely the men of the Gatineau that had seen the first of the V-1 bombs in use during their operations in the English Channel a few days after D-Day.

Patrick would marry wife Vera Irene (nee Moore) O’Connor at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church at noon on October 19, 1946. Vera Irene was the daughter of Mrs. Janet Moore, 213 Cromwell Street, and the late W.R. Moore. At the time of their marriage, Patrick’s parents, James and Angela, were residing at 236 Proctor Street. Patrick and Vera Irene would have four children together. Their daughter, Terri Patricia, was born August 16, 1947 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Sarnia; their first son, Michael Moore, was born January 14, 1949; and twin sons Jon and Gerald who were born December 21, 1949 at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Patrick, Vera and their children resided at 735 Oak Street, Sarnia. Prior to enlisting, Patrick worked as a driver-salesman with a local Sarnia bakery.

Patrick enlisted for service in the Korean War with the Canadian Army on August 21, 1950 in London, Ontario, becoming a member of the Royal Canadian Regiment – “D” Company. Following initial training with the regiment, he was transferred to Fort Lewis, Washington, before sailing for the Korean war-zone. Private Patrick O’Connor was in Korea for only one month, and was in action just five days before losing his life on May 30, 1951, less than one year after enlisting. He was the first Sarnia man to be killed in the Korean War. The reality of the Korean War hit home in Sarnia with the May 31, 1951 Sarnia Observer front page headline, “Sarnia Man, 27, Father of Two, Dies in Korea” (Patrick was the father of four children).

On May 29, 1951, just one day before he was killed, Patrick O’Connor wrote the following poem:

Korea

There is blood on the hills of Korean

T’is blood of the brave and the true

Where the 25th brigade battled together

Under the banner of red, white and blue

 

As they marched over the fields of Korea

To the hills where the enemy lay

They remembered the Brigadier’s order

These hills must be taken to-day

 

Forward they marched into battle

With face unsmiling and stern

They knew as they charged the hillside

There were some who would never return

Some thought of their wives and their mothers

Some thought of their sweethearts so fair

And some as they plodded and stumbled

Were reverently whispering a prayer

 

There is blood on the hills of Korea

It’s the gift of the freedom they love

May their names live in glory forever

And their souls rest in heaven above

Patrick O’Connor was fatally wounded on “Hill 466” in Korea while trying to render first aid to a wounded comrade under intense machine gun fire from Communist forces. He and another stretcher-bearer ignored danger in their desire to help the wounded of the Royal Canadian Regiment. The two men were killed almost instantaneously, Vera, his widow, learned from officers of the regiment, by his widow Mrs. Vera Irene O’Connor, who was residing at 735 Oak Avenue, Sarnia. Reverend A.J. Ruth, Roman Catholic chaplain with the Royals, wrote about Patrick O’Connor, He died as a soldier trying to help a wounded comrade and your children may be justly proud of their father. Mrs. O’Connor also received letters from Lieut. D.A. Strickland, praising the heroism of the 27-year-old veteran of the Second World War. Lt.-Col. Keane, officer commanding, Second Battalion, R.C.R.’s wrote Mrs. O’Connor: Your husband was a very fine man, well-liked by all, and with a courage that can only be part of a fine moral character. Lieut. Strickland described the action thus: On the day Pat was killed, my platoon was leading an attack on ‘Hill 466’. Half way up the mountain my forward section came under intense fire which killed two and wounded four others. Pat and his partner came running up the hill to get the wounded but another burst of fire hit them both. He died as he had lived, trying to aid others with his wonderful unselfishness.

A few days after receiving the news of Patrick O’Connor’s death, the Rev. Father A.N. Nolan, pastor of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, led a memorial military mass at St. Peter’s Church. Twenty-seven year old Patrick O’Connor is buried in the United Nations Cemetery in Busan, South Korea. He also has a memorial plaque on the Korea Veteran’s National Wall of Remembrance in Meadowvale Cemetery, in Brampton, Ontario. This memorial has plaques for each of the 516 Canadian service men who died while serving with the Canadian Forces in the United Nations. Patrick O’Connor has many well-deserved citations: 1939-1945 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp; Korea Medal; and United Nations Service Medal Korea. For parents James and Angela O’Connor, Patrick was their second son lost to war, the first being Warrant Officer Class II James Michael Barry O’Connor of the R.C.A.F, killed in April of 1943. On the November 11, 1952 Remembrance Day ceremony held in Victoria Park in Sarnia, over thirty wreaths were laid at the foot of the Sarnia cenotaph. The first wreath laid on the cenotaph that day was brought up by Mrs. Vera O’Connor, the widow of Patrick William O’Connor and mother of their four children.

SOURCES: A, B, D, E, H, L, N, 2D