O'Conner, Benjamin William

Date of birth:: June 5th, 1917 (Kimberley/Northern Cape, South Africa)
Nationality:: South African

Biography

Service number 243443.

Benjamin O’Connor joined the Union of South Africa Defence Force on 20 June 1940 and was awarded the Military Medal for services mentioned below during the 2nd battle of El Alamein.

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Military Medal (MM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Private
Unit:: South African Forces
Awarded on:: December 31st, 1942

Citation:
"For individual acts of bravery whilst under heavy enemy fire. During the night 23/24 Oct 42, whilst taking part in an attack upon an enemy posn, the P1 to which Pte. O’Connor belonged sustained heavy casualties both in killed and wounded, during an assault which brought them within 50 yds of the enemy post. The intensity of the enemy mortar and machine gun fire caused the P1 to withdraw 20 yds, and it was then possible to bring back all the wounded men. After new positions had been taken up, Pte. O’Connor, with complete disregard for his own safety, went back to the enemy wire under heavy enemy fire directed against him, and brought back a seriously wounded man, who had been lying 30 yds from an enemy machine gun position. He returned a second time and brought back another wounded man, all the time exposing himself to machine gun fire, but showing unwavering courage. Had it not been for these individual acts of gallantry on his part, the two wounded men would most assuredly have been killed. He later became a POW and was in Stalag A-Moosburg.”