Martin O'Meara

Martin O'Meara was an Irish-born Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He served as a Sergeant in the Australian Army during World War I, where his actions on the Western Front earned him the Empire's premier decoration for valor.

His Victoria Cross is a highly regarded historical artifact and is held in the collections of the Army Museum of Western Australia in Fremantle. In July 2019, the medal was loaned by the Australian government to the National Museum of Ireland for public display.

This temporary repatriation of his medal required a special legislative amendment to the Protection of Moveable Cultural Heritage Act of 1986, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of O'Meara's bravery and service to both Australia and Ireland.