Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William O’Brien, the firstborn son of Mrs A. O’Brien and Mr P. O’Brien, was a South Australian soldier who served in the Australian Imperial Force. O’Brien was born in Alberton, South Australia on the 8th of October 1892, and lived with his 3 brothers, 2 of whom also served in the war. All 3 brothers commenced and finished schooling at Alberton Public School and Marist Brothers College.

O’Brien enlisted in the war on the 9th of December 1914 with no previous military record but held the occupation of a ship’s purser pre-war, where he was in charge of overseeing the administration of the ship’s cargo and supplies.

On the 19th of February 1915, O’Brien embarked on the HMAT A54 Runic from Melbourne, Victoria. This ship was part of a second convoy of Australian and New Zealand troops and was destined for Egypt, where troops were sent for training. Egypt was strategically important in the war and served as training ground for new troops. Many troops were then deployed at the Gallipoli campaigns and the Western Front.

Later, O’Brien was taken on strength at Gallipoli with the 10th Battalion on the 7th of May 1915. During the Gallipoli campaign, the 10th Battalion fought on the Gallipoli peninsula. Specifically, they were tasked to hold positions on the peninsula against the Ottoman Empire, including the Battle of Sulva and the Battle of Sari Bair. The 10th Battalion was part of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Australian Division and was actively engaged in war which characterised the campaign.

Soon after, O’Brien gained several promotions, including promotions to Corporal and Temporary Sergeant. Later, O’Brien was sent back to Alexandria on the 29th of December 1915, as part of the ANZAC evacuation ending the Gallipoli Campaign, and was further promoted to Sergeant clerk on the 4th of March 1916.

O’Brien joined the British Expeditionary Force in Alexandria on the 27th of March 1916 and soon disembarked at Marseilles, France on the 3rd of April 1916, which initiated his transfer from the Eastern Front to the Western Front. Marseilles was an important location that played a role in troop deployment (where O’Brien was deployed). Troops arriving in Marseilles underwent training before being sent to the Western Front. O’Brien was also promoted to 2nd lieutenant on the 6th of September 1916 and thankfully did not suffer any casualties.

The most significant battle to O’Brien – the Battle of Bullecourt – happened in the first half year of 1917. The conditions of the Battle of Bullecourt were terrible, with extremely cold weather and disease outbreaks – especially respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and colds. The plan was to break through the Hindenburg Line and force a German withdrawal. With the Australian and British forces, O’Brien led his men ‘over the top’ at 0300, North of Louverval on the 9th of April 1917. The battalion advanced 1000 yards and eventually reached the Hindenburg Line outside Bapaume, where they were met with a large number of German soldiers at Bullecourt. Whilst the first attack in April was not successful, the second attack in May gained more success and gave the ANZACs a lead in the war, eventually leading to their success in 1918.

Unfortunately, O’Brien’s life was taken from him on the 9th of April 1917, along with 40 other casualties from his battalion, and the front failed to move until 1918. As said by Pte. E. Chernianin, an eyewitness of O’Brien’s death, “Lt. O’Brien was about five yds from me in a front line trench abt. 300 yds….when he was shot by a sniper through the heart. The time was about 2 pm.” The men buried his body that same afternoon in ‘Sunken Road’ off Bapaume and ‘Cambrie Road.’ Many eyewitnesses stated O’Brien was a ‘very fine fellow,’ and was heavily respected by all. However, there are some people who state O’Brien was shot in the head, and others who stated he was shot in the heart.

Since O’Brien did not return from the war, his will stated that he devised and bequeathed all his property to his mother, Agnes Helen O’Brien. O’Brien’s two siblings also died in the war – Private Thomas Joseph O'Brien was killed in action on the 11th of April 1917, just two days after his brothers’ death. Lance Corporal James Daniel O’Brien died in German hands on the 30th of July 1917.

O’Brien’s gravestone is in the Vaulx Hill British Cemetery, 46 miles northeast of Bapaume (close to where he died) and states O’Brien was 24 years of age when he was killed in action. The gravestone also commemorates his actions in the war, stating ‘HIS DUTY NOBLY DONE.’