Soldier profiles

Name : O'LEARY, JOHN CECIL
Service Number : VX6555
Date of Birth : 25/02/1914
Place of Birth : NARRACORTE, SA
Known as : CEC
Occupation on Enlistment : HORSE TRAINER
Date of Enlistment : 04/11/1939
Locality on Enlistment : NUMURKAH, VIC
Place of Enlistment : WANGARATTA, VIC
Next of Kin : O'LEARY, JOHN
Rank (at time of discharge / death) : PRIVATE
Service : ARMY
Final Posting : 2/8 INFANTRY BATTALION
Position / Platoon / Company (as 2/2 Pioneer) (date / details) :
Unit Transfers / Promotions (date / details) :
Theatres of War :
Actions :
Wounded (date / details) :
Discharged : 27/02/1941
Date Died : N/A
Community Roll of Honour : N/A
Buried Location / Memorial (P.O.W., D.O.W., K.I.A.) : N/A
K.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
D.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
M.I.A. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. (location/s) : NO
Died P.O.W. (date / details) : N/A
P.O.W. Camps (details) : N/A
Recovered P.O.W. (location/s) : N/A
Honours and Gallantry : None for display
Applicable Australian War Memorial circulars : NO
References found (entries & photos) : National Archives of Australia (Barcode 6222918 [NOT EXAMINED]), WW2 Nominal Roll, Past article (size 2116kB)

Background : An extract from http://www.horseproblems.com.au/about_page.htm : Cecil O'Leary was a horse breaker, racehorse trainer and jockey. During the 2nd World War, he was in the first 10 to enter the Puckerpunyal Army Camp, was the first Cook, the first Squad Drill Instructor and the first Rifle Instructor. He taught 'Bush Law' and horse riding safety to the Officers. Ces was the escort of choice when General Blamey, Officer in Charge of the AIF wanted to go riding. He had 8 brothers and 2 sisters. The 8 brothers all went on to be horse breakers. They then all became racehorse trainers and all trained winners, following in the footsteps of their Father. All eight also held jockeys licenses and they all rode winners. In addition to this, they ran the O'Leary Circus, which consisted of high jumping and trick horses, stock whip acts, etc. They were all professional show jumping riders on the show circuit throughout western Victoria, riding for the rich Grazier families of the time. Ces O'Leary has broken 40 bones including his neck in horse riding accidents. As of 2003, at the age of 90, he still cuts 5 tonne of hard wood for the widows around the town where he lives and looks after the weeding of two cemeteries. He shot the centre of his right foot completely out with a shotgun a few years ago but hasn't let that bother him. He is also a fine Irish tenor.