Saunders, Andrew (A)

Lieutenant-Colonel William MCCARTHY-O'LEARY of Coomlagane, Co. Cork, the Son of J. McCarthey-O'Leary ex-High Sheriff of Cork, was born January 1849 in Cork, Ireland. He served in the Boer War with the 1st Battalion South Lancashire Regiment [ 1 ], which was part of the 11th [Lancastrian Brigade] commanded by Major General Woodgate. Lt. Col. O'Learry was killed in action 27th February 1900 aged 51, leading the final bayonet charge to clear Pieter's Hill, which led to the Relief of Ladysmith. As he led the charge he reportedly said: " Remember men, the eyes of Lancashire are watching you today. " He left behind his wife Mary three sons and two daughters. He's buried close to 5 other members of the South Lancashire Regiment in a small graveyard in Ladysmith. O'Leary Street, Warrington where the Peninsula Barracks is located, is named after him; until a few years ago the barracks was home to the South Lancashire Regiment. The South Lancashire Regiment's South African War Memorial, in Queen's Gardens Warrington is a statue of the Lieut. Colonel and every year the anniversary of the battle [21st February] is observed by Members of the Warrington Branch of the Regimental Association and others. Note [1] - In 1958 and 1970 The South Lancashire Regiment [Prince of Wales's Volunteers] was amalgamated with the East Lancashire Regiment and The Loyal Regiment [North Lancashire] respectively to become The Lancashire Regiment [Prince of Wales's Volunteers]. Further amalgamations took place 1999-2006 and the regiment is now part of lineage of The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment [King's, Lancashire and Border]. References: Articles from the Warrington Guardian local Newspaper: "We will remember them ..." Edition of Thursday, February 28, 2008, P14 "Protect our war heroes' graves" 23 Jan 1998 available at http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/1998/1/23/242929.html "To a Hero's Memory" 6 Mar 2006 available at http://archive.thisischeshire.co.uk/2006/3/6/266744.html Other online sources: Queen's Lancashire Regiment Chapels & Memorials [MoD web site] at <a hr