S4575
BREALEY, Oliver
| Service Number: | 5053 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 January 1916, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kangarilla, South Australia, 27 June 1879 |
| Home Town: | Houghton, Adelaide Hills, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Gardener |
| Died: | Houghton, South Australia, 6 September 1920, aged 41 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Houghton Cemetery, S.A. Interred on the 7 September 1920 |
| Memorials: | Houghton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 25 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Adelaide | |
| 25 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Shropshire embarkation_ship_number: A9 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, "Peaceful Penetration - Low-Cost, High-Gain Tactics on the Western Front", The first fight at Pozieres in Somme Valley, France, in July 1916. | |
| 31 Jul 1917: | Involvement Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, Fought in the Ypres sector in Belgium during the Third Battle of Ypres. | |
| 29 Jan 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, Shrapnel wound to the left arm and face | |
| 9 May 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, 2nd occasion. Gunshot wound to the left hand | |
| 10 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 5053, 10th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District as Medically Unfit |
Help us honour Oliver Brealey's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of William Robert Brealey and Emily Brealey nee Jones of Houghton, SA.
Brother of Frank Brealey, Ella Brealey, Amy Brealey, Hurtle Brealey, Winifred Amy Brealey, Marion Brealey and William Howard Brealey
Returned to Australia on 19 October 1918 for discharge
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Modbury High School
Oliver Brealey was born on 27th June 1879 in Kangarilla, South Australia. Before the war, he worked as a gardener. His father was William Robert Brealey; he was listed as his kin during the war and his mother was Emily Brealey, Nee Jones. Oliver had seven siblings: Frank Brealey, Ella Brealey, Amy Brealey, Hurtle Brealey, Winifred Amy Brealey, Marion Brealey and William Howard Brealey. There was detailed information about his physical appearance. In his Attestation Papers, he was described as having blue eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. He was 33 years and 4 months old, 5 feet 6 ¾ inches tall, and weighed 56.2kg.
Oliver enlisted on 24 January 1916 in Adelaide, South Australia, at the age of 33. Oliver left Adelaide on 25 March 1916 with the HMAT Shropshire A9. He served as a private and was assigned to the 16th reinforcement of the 10th Australian Infantry Battalion.
During the war, Oliver suffered from trench foot in 1917, it a painful condition that is caused by wet and muddy conditions. He was also injured by gunshots wounds to his left arm and face in 1918. A letter was sent to his loved ones from the AIF, which said that he was admitted to the Eastbourne Military Hospital in England, and it said the wounds were mild. Later, he was diagnosed with effort syndrome, which is a condition similar to shellshock, caused by battle stress and anxiety. He was repatriated back to Australia medically unit. He was officially discharged from the Australian Imperial Force in March 1919.
Brealey Oliver sadly died 6 September 1920 in Houghton, South Australia