The Soldier's Details
- Surname:
- O’Meara
- First Name:
- Joseph Patrick
- Nick Name:
- Pat and Brum
- Rank:
- Private
- Regimental #:
- WX7981
- Classification:
- Driver
- Company:
- ‘D’ Company, 14 Platoon
- Enlisted:
- 13.08.1940
- Discharged:
- 14.03.1946
- DOB:
- 13.04.1919
- Place of Birth:
- Doodlakine, Western Australia
- Father's Name:
- Jeremiah James O’Meara
- Mothers's Name:
- Alice Gertrude O’Meara (nee Hubble)
- Religion:
- Roman Catholic
- Pre-war Occupation:
- Teamster and Farmhand
- Singapore:
- Selarang Camp and Barracks Changi
- Force:
- ‘D’ Force Thailand, S Battalion
- Camps Thailand:
- Kanu II, Chungkai
- POW#:
- 4 /6467 and 8829
- Return Details 1945:
- Thailand‐Singapore by aircraft; Singapore-Fremantle, HMT Moreton Bay
General Description
Pat O’Meara enlisted AIF 27 Nov 1940 and later joined 2/4th MGB’s ‘D’ Company 14 Platoon as a driver.
Please read about D Company
O’Meara was wounded in action at Buona Vista on 15/2/1942. Admitted to 13th Australian General Hospital on 15/2/1942 with a shrapnel wound in the left thigh. Discharged to unit on 28/2/1942.
As a POW in Singapore he was sent to work on Burma-Thai Railway with ‘D’ Force Thailand S Battalion. Leaving by train in May 1943 in very crowded trucks they arrived in Thailand 5 days later and headed to the Hellfire Pass Region. Please read D Force S Battalion
He was recovered at the end of the war in Thailand.
O’Meara was given the nickname ‘Drum’ – we dont know if his family called him ‘Drum’ or just the AIF!
The original ‘Drum’ O’Meara was a West Australian footballer
His parents Jeremiah O’Meara and Alice Hubble married 1909 in Northam. Their children included Kathleen Alice, Jeremiah James ‘Jim’, Gertrude Mary ‘Gerty’, John ‘Jack’ William, Geraldine Agnes, Lily ‘May’ and Joseph James ‘Pat’.
Below: Older sister Kathleen wrote to a Children’s newspaper columnist ‘Aunt Bessy’ mentioning her baby brother ‘Joseph Patrick’ who is only two months old
Below: Tragically Jeremiah Josep O’Meara died in 1922 when Joseph Patrick known as Pat would have been 2-3 years old.
Below: Pat O’Meara, Eddie Adams and Alf Stevens are mentioned at this Public Farewell at Kellerberrin.
Below: from the Eastern Recorder Kellerberrin
After the war Joe married June Friend in Northam in 1946. We believe they had two sons.
His mother Alice O’Meara died August 1978 at Claremont.
In 1949 Joe and June are residing Wongan HIlls with Joe working as a farm hand.
In 1958 Electoral Roll Joe and June are residing Garratt Road, Bayswater, Joe is working as a vermin inspector.
In 1972 Electoral Roll Joe and June resided Broadbent Street, Wongan Hills, June was shop asst, and Joe an Inspector.
In 1977 and 1980 Joe and June are living Garratt Road, Bayswater – Joe appears not to be working.
Joe passed away 30th January 1984 at Bayswater. June died 2 September 2018 at Mundaring.
Camp Locations:
- Selarang Barracks Changi - Singapore
- Selarang Camp Changi - Singapore
- Chungkai, 60k - Thailand
- Kanu 1 151.00k - Thailand
