O’REILLY, Clarence James

War
2nd Word War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Chatham - Ontario
Original Unit
Essex Scottish Regiment
Regimental Number
50286
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
25 years 4 months
Cemetery
Brookwood Cemetery
Cenotaph
Seaforth Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

NAME                  O’REILLY           Clarence James
RANK                  Private                50286                                                                                                                  REGIMENT         Essex Scottish Regiment
                            “always ready”
                            Royal Canadian Infantry Corp                                                                                                  Born                     November 8, 1917 - Dublin - Hibbert Township - County of Perth & McKillop Township - County                                                                                                                                         of Huron                  Residence           St. Thomas - Ontario                                                                                                                Died                     March 18, 1943          25 years   4 months
Cemetery            Brookwood Military Cemetery - Brookwood - Surrey - England
                            34 A 10
Parents               Mr. William and Emma O’Reilly-Dublin                                                                                Brothers              Joseph, John and William possibly lived on the family homestead.                                      Sisters                 Mary O'Reilly and Mrs. Theresa Burke

James was born on November 8, 1917. He left public school at the age of 13 after completing Grade 5. The family attended St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Once he left school he worked on the family farm for 7 years and then prior to his enlistment he worked for Sterling Construction Company of Windsor for 3 years. He had also been in the Active Militia with the Elgin Regiment since 1939.

Canada                                                                                                                                                                        
He enlisted into the Canadian Army in Chatham on August 14, 1940 with the rank of Private and attached to the Kent Regiment. At that time he stood 5' 7" tall and weighed 120 pounds. He had a medium complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. He was posted to No. 1 District Depot at Wolseley Barracks in London                              he Private O'Reilly is then attached to the  Kent Wing based in Halifax at that time which was on is granted July 24, 1941 and shortly following this was granted Agricultural Leave between August 1-23, 1941.                                    In April of 1942 the Kent Regiment served on the west coast with the 8th Canadian Division - 14th Infantry Brigade. He was appointed Lance Corporal on September 1, 1942 while based at New Westminster - British Columbia. Two weeks later he was transferred to the Canadian Army Overseas and shortly after began his journey to Halifax in preparations for going overseas.

Overseas

On September 29, 1942 Lance Corporal O'Reilly was Struck off of Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and the same day he embarked from Halifax and Canada. The following day while at sea he was Taken on Strength with the Canadian Army overseas. Disembarkation in the United Kingdom was on October 7. The next day he reported for duty and was given the rank of Corporal. On the 22nd he was assigned to the 2nd Canadian Reinforcement Unit and the next day was Taken on Service with the Essex Scottish Regiment. At some point he reverted to rank of Private.                                                                                                                                      On March 15, 1943 at 2:15 pm in Middleton on Sea - Sussex, Private O’Reilly, while on duty was mortally wounded after a fellow comrade drew a loaded pistol from a haversack and at that time the gun fired. The bullet entered Private O’Reilly's left groin, lacerated the left femoral vein, and this caused him to lose a tremendous amount of blood. He immediately went into deep shock after the accident and stretcher bearers were able to provide him immediate medical assistance and he was rushed to a nearby St. Richards Hospital in Chichester - Sussex. On March 18, 1943 at 8:01 am Private O’Reilly succumbed to his wounds and died at Chichester in St.
Richards Hospital.
O’Reilly was buried with full military honours and Christian rites on March 22, 1943, which turned
out to be a warm and clear day.

During May of 1943 his mother Emma received the Memorial Cross and than later the family received the medals awarded to Clarence which were the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Clarence is honoured and remembered on the Seaforth Cenotaph, on the Memorial Plaque of St James Catholic Church and on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. His name is also in the Books of Remembrance located on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.