Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Actual name is John - known as Jack.

Father William Augustus O'Brien  and Mother Annie (nee  ________ )
of 23 Henderson Street, Fremantle, Western Australia.

Sister - Miss Molly O'Brien, Fremantle, WA

Previously served as a Leading Seaman, A Company, Royal Australian Navy Brigade.

Described on enlisting as 18 years 3 months old; single; 5' 6 1/2" tall; fair complexion;
brown eyes; chestnut hair; Weslyan

1/2/1917            Enlisted at Fremantle, Western Australia
                          Completed medical - fit for service

12/2/1917          Commanding Officer appointed Jack to 25th reinforcements, 16th Battalion
                          Blackboy Hill Camp

2/10/1917          Blackboy Clearing Hospital, Broadmeadows - Influenza
5-10/10/1917     No.5 General Hospital

11/10/1917        with 12th reinforcements, 2nd Pioneers

30/10/1917        Embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Aeneas A60
                          with 12th reinforcements, 2nd Pioneers
26/12/1917        Disembarked into Devonport, England

27/12/1917        Marched in to Engineers Training Battalion, Sutton Veny, England

2/1/1918            Transferred to 32nd Infantry Battalion, Sutton Veny, England
                          Taken on strength into 32nd Infantry Battalion, Codford

Unlike some AIF battalions, the 32nd had a relatively quiet time during the German Spring Offensive of 1918 as the 5th Division was largely kept in reserve.

19/1/1918          Sick to Clearing Hospital - swollen foot
26/1/1918          Marched in from Clearing Hospital

1/4/1918            Proceeded overseas to France, ex Dover
6/4/1918            Taken on strength into 48th Infantry Battalion

Like most AIF battalions, the 48th rotated in and out of the front line through the winter of 1917-18. In the spring of 1918 it played a crucial role in blocking the main road into Amiens when the Germans launched their last great offensive. When it came time for the Allies to launch their own offensive, the 48th took part in the Battle of Amiens between 8 and 10 August.

9/8/1918            Shell wound to chest and penetrating back - serious
                          Taken by stretcher to 8th Australian Field Ambulance, Proyart, France
                          He was unconscious on arrival at the Dressing Station

9/8/1918            Died shortly after arrival at Dressing Station of shell wounds

From the Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Bureau:-

10/8/1918          He was buried in a small cemetery on Mon du Bois l'Abbe
                          situated between the main road and the railway line 1 3/4 miles west of
                          Villers-Bretonneaux, France
                          A small wooden cross was erected over his grave
                         (stated 10/6/1919 Base Records)

30/8/1918          by Reverend W M Halliday 
                          British Military Cemetery, White Chateau, near Villers-Bretonneau, France
                          2 miles west of Villers-Bretonneaux and 3 miles south-south west of Corbie

27/1/1919         Miss Molly O'Brien wrote to Commanding Officer, Base Records Melbourne
                         "..........our dear brother was only just 18 years old, enlisting at the 
                           age of 17 and one of the noblest and best little boys who went away.
                           Three days before he fell he wrote saying:
                           how glorious it was to be able to do his bit, and he also said tho he 
                           hoped to come thro, yet not to worry if he did not."

6/1/1920            exhumed and reburied in:
                          Plot III. Row I. Grave 15
                          Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France
                          2 1/4 miles south of Corbie.

March 1921
Mrs Annie O'Brien paid ONE POUND to have a wreath of silk flowers, covered by a glass dome
placed at Jack's grave  at  Adelaide Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France
and inside the flowers and dome  a dedication which reads:
"In affectionate memory of my dear son. From Mother".             

Medals:
British War Medal (58665); Victory Medal (57624); Memorial Plaque and Memorial Scroll
(348862).

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.  27/10/2014.  Lest we forget.