61248
O'BRIEN, Jacob James
| Service Number: | 4838 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 November 1915, 15th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Driver |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Clare, Clare and Gilbert Valleys - South Australia, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Port Pirie, Port Pirie City and Dists, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Adelaide, 6 January 1927, cause of death not yet discovered, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
West Terrace Cemetery (AIF Section) Section: LO, Road: 7N, Site No: 10 |
| Memorials: | Port Pirie Fathers of Sailors and Soldiers Association Port Pirie District Roll of Honor WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Nov 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4838, 10th Infantry Battalion, 15th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4838, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 4 Sep 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 4838, 50th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm, Evacuated to the UK with 'GSW' (variously gunshot or 'General Shrapnel' Wounds) and fractured ribs. | |
| 5 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 4838, 50th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines | |
| 20 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 4838, 50th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days", --- :rsl_ww1_membership_card_import: service_number: 4838 new_service_number: 4838 new_conflict: World War 1 rank: Driver new_rank: Driver unit: 50th Battalion new_unit: 50th Infantry Battalion other_unit | |
| 30 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 4838, 50th Infantry Battalion |
Awarded the Military Medal
'From 5th to 12th June 1917 near MESSINES these N.C.O.s and men [6704 W. BERRY, 4315 F. McKENZIE, 4838 J.J. O'BRIEN, 8460 F.E. NELSON, 6317 P.S. CHARLWOOD, 2085 A.W. SIMMONS, 2206 W.W. ARBERY, 3250 K.C. BASSETT, 3800 J.F. GRABHAM] were employed with the Divisional Pack Transport Troop which was used nightly in taking up supplies, water and ammunition to the various Battalion Headquarters. The various convoys came nightly under heavy shell and machine gun fire and their work was carried out in the dark and under trying conditions. In some cases the supplies were taken up to within a few hundred yards from Front Line. These N.C.O.s and men have been selected in order of merit out of the [no. indecipherable] N.C.O.. and men employed as having set an example of coolness under fire and determination in carrying out their duties.'
Submitted 28 August 2018 by Steve Larkins
Biography contributed by Steve Larkins
Extracted from Service Record
Private Jacob James O'BRIEN was a married man resident at 3rd Street Island, Port Pirie West, South Australia, when he enlisted in November 1915. He was 27 years old at the time of embarkation from Adelaide in March 1916 as a Reinforcement for the 10th Battalion. Like many others 'in the same boat', literally, Jacob was destined to be transferred to the 'pup' Battalion of the 10th, the 50th Battalion in the 4th Division during the process of 'doubling the AIF' which took place in Egypt and subsequent to embarkation for France.
Embarked Alexandria, Egypt, to join the British Expeditionary Force, 7 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 14 June 1916.
Taken on strength of 50th Bn, 13 August 1916, by which time the Battalion was engaged at Mouquet Farm on the Somme.
He wasn't there long before being wounded in action, on 4 September 1916; admitted to No 3 Canadian Hospital, Boulogne, 5 September 1916 (gunshot wound, face and ribs); transferred to England, 6 September 1916; to Norfolk Hospital. Thorpe, Norfolk, 7 September 1916 (he was further diagnosed with fractured ribs).
After recuperating he proceeded overseas to France, 14 December 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 15 December 1916.
Rejoined unit, 19 December 1916.
Posted as a Driver, 1 February 1917.
Awarded Military Medal, 23 June 1917.
On leave, 8 September 1917; rejoined unit, 23 September 1917.
Admitted to No 13 Australian Field Ambulance, 17 November 1917, and transferred to No 59 Casualty Clearing Station the same day (rheumatism); to No 3 Convalescent Depot, Cayaux, 4 December 1917; discharged, 8 January 1918; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Le Havre, 9 January 1918.
Proceeded to unit, 13 January 1918; rejoined unit, 18 January 1918.
On leave to United Kingdom, 2 March 1918; rejoined unit, 16 March 1918.
Admitted to No 49 Casualty Clearing Station, 5 August 1918 (Inflammation of connective tissues, foot); transferred to No 11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 7 August 1918; to No 2 Convalescent Depot, Rouen, 15 August 1918; marched into Australian Intermediate Base Depot, Le Havre, 9 September 1918.
Rejoined unit, 19 September 1918 during the final phase of the AIF's invovlement on the Western Front which concluded on 5 October 1918 at Montbrehain.
On leave to United Kingdom, 2 October 1918, he returned and rejoined his unit, 23 October 1918.
Proceeded to England, 20 January 1919; marched into Overseas Training Bde, Longbridge Deverill, 29 January 1919.
Commenced return to Australia from Devonport on board HT 'Armagh', 5 April 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 16 May 1919; discharged Adelaide (termination of period of enlistment), 30 June 1919.
Total war service: 3 years 231 days (of which 3 years 69 days were abroad).
Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Jacob returned to Australia but died aged only 37, on the 6th January 1927. He is buried in the AIF Cemetery on West Terrace, Adelaide.
Click images to start slideshow.