O'BREE, William Henry
| Service Number: | 632 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 September 1914, An original of E Company |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moulamein, New South Wales, Australia, April 1887 |
| Home Town: | Swan Hill, Swan Hill, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Swan Hill State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 2 May 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Courtney’s and Steel's Post Cemetery Courtney's and Steel's Post Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Nyah Memorial Gates, Orange Cenotaph, Orange Holy Trinity Anglican Church Honour Board, Orange St John's Uniting Church Roll of Honour, Orange WW1 Honour Board, Piangil War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 632, 14th Infantry Battalion, An original of E Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 632, 14th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Lance Corporal, 632, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William Henry O’Bree was born in Moulemein in southern NSW in 1887 to William and Elizabeth Margaret O’Bree (nee Hart).
William was educated at Balranald and Swan Hill in Victoria, and was well-known in the area for his athleticism. Following his education William worked as a farm labourer for his uncle, John O’Bree, at Piangil near Swan Hill. In October 1914 William enlisted in Horsham, joining the 14th Battalion as a Private. He was promoted to Lance Corporal the following month.
His parents lived in Clinton Street, Orange, where William Snr worked for Massey Harris tractors. Both parents were active members of the Orange community and were involved church activities, fundraisers and the war effort.
William embarked for overseas service from Melbourne in December 1914, and served in Egypt and Gallipoli however, according to a letter written by his step-brother to the Army in 1967, William did not take part in the initial landing at Gallipoli because he was in hospital at the time with pneumonia.
Lance Corporal O’Bree was killed in action at Gallipoli on 2 May 1915; he was buried the same day.
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