Timothy O'Hea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Timothy O'Hea
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Timothy O'Hea VC
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| Born | 1843 Schull, County Cork |
| Died | 1874 (aged 30–31) Tirari Desert-Sturt Stony Desert, Australia |
| Buried |
Noccundria Station, Queensland, Australia
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
Timothy O'Hea (1843 – 1874) was an Irish soldier. He was born in Schull, County Cork. Timothy O'Hea received the Victoria Cross (VC). This is the highest award for bravery in the British and Commonwealth forces. It is given for amazing acts of courage.
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What is the Victoria Cross?
Timothy O'Hea was a Private in the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own). He was about 23 years old. His unit was stationed in Canada. He earned his Victoria Cross there for an incredibly brave act.
Timothy O'Hea's heroic act
On June 9, 1866, a serious fire broke out. It happened in a railway car in Danville, Canada East. This car was carrying 2,000 pounds of ammunition! That's a lot of explosives. The car was traveling between Quebec City and Montreal.
When the alarm sounded, the car was quickly unhooked. It was left at Danville Railway Station. The sergeant in charge was trying to figure out what to do. But Private O'Hea didn't wait. He quickly grabbed the keys from the sergeant. Then, he rushed to the burning car. He opened it and yelled for water and a ladder. Because of his quick thinking and brave actions, the fire was put out. He saved many lives and prevented a huge explosion.
Timothy O'Hea's life in Australia
Timothy O'Hea is believed to have died in November 1874. This happened in the Tirari Desert-Sturt Stony Desert area of central Australia. He was searching for a lost member of the Leichhardt expedition. This was a group exploring the land. Graham Fischer was there when O'Hea died. However, he did not share many details about it.
Another theory about O'Hea's death
A recent book by Elizabeth Reid, called The Singular Journey of O'Hea's Cross, suggests something different. It proposes that Timothy O'Hea actually died in Ireland. This would have been shortly after he left the British Army in 1868. The book suggests his brother, John, then pretended to be Timothy. John might have taken Timothy's identity and his Victoria Cross pension. So, it might have been John who died in Australia.
Where to see the Victoria Cross medal
Timothy O'Hea's Victoria Cross medal is on display. You can see it at the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum. This museum is located in Winchester, England.
