Hugh Patrick O'Connor was born in 1893 at Waimate, the son of James and Mary O'Connor. He had served in the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment before he left the district, and he had registered for compulsory military training at Waimate. When he enlisted, Hugh was living at Waipukurau and was employed as a storeman for Hawkes Bay Farmers. In November 1915 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Hugh was admitted to hospital at Trentham in 1916. Thereafter, in early January 1916, he was granted brief sick leave. Hugh was discharged in March 1916. At this date he was deemed of very good character. No reason for his not proceeding overseas is apparent. He seemed to be be a well built, fit young man. Perhaps it was a consequence of his hospitalization in 1916.

Hugh died in 1951 at Wairoa where he had lived since the late 1930s. Hugh had married May Beachen in 1920. After May died in 1936, Hugh married Ivy. In early 1952, Hugh's elder son, Eric Hugh O'CONNOR, applied for the grant of Letters of Administration in regard to his father's estate, effects and credits, since Hugh had left no Will. His siblings - Alan Lloyd O'Connor, June Mills, Gwendolyn May McKenzie and Nola Margaret O'Connor, as well as his step-mother, Ivy, consented to this application.

Hugh's granddaughter, Cheryl Neame recounted: "Hugh named his house in Wairoa "Studholme" after the property his parents held near Waimate ... I remember my father saying Hugh had a fine singing voice". Biography provided by the Timaru Museum SCRoll project. AWMM