O'BRIEN, John Patrick
| Service Number: | 2961 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 March 1916, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Deloraine, Tasmania, October 1885 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Accidental (drowned), France, 16 August 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Racquinghem Churchyard Racquinghem Churchyard, Racquinghem, St Omer, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Mar 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2961, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 2961, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 2961, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Aeneas, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide High School
John Patrick O’Brien was born in October in the year 1885. He was born in Deloraine, Tasmania. Before joining the war John O’Brien’s source of income/job was a Labourer. Before joining the war, John did not have any previous military service on any of his records at the time.
His known family is his next of kin his mother; Mrs Ada O'Brien. She probably lived in Deloraine her whole life, as she received a lot of mail after John died and the location was Deloraine. John Patrick was single and was not married.
John O’Brien enlisted for the AIF on the 4th of May 1916. He was enlisted in the 32nd Battalion as a private. He enlisted in South Australia. On the date of embarkment (11 Apr 1916), he was aboard the HMAT A60 Aeneas. He boarded from Adelaide. He went to Paris and he stay with his unit the whole time and took on strength for the 32nd battalion.
While in Paris he did many things. On the 24th of August 1916. He was charged twice. First charge; Conduct to the prejudice of good, order and military discipline. Second charge; Drunkenness. He was found guilty and was sentenced to 72 days of Field punishment 2. In this, John was placed in fetters and handcuffs. They were not attached to any fixed object. He still had to march. John was also subjected to hard labour and loss of pay.
In the following months, he was sick and put in a hospital in Paris 3 times. The first time he was sick he got sick on the 30th of August 1916 and it lasted till the 5th of September. He was Evacuated on the 15th Field ambulance and admitted conjunctivitis measles.
The second time he was Evacuated on the 15th Field ambulance. He went to the hospital on the 2nd of December 1916. He also admitted trench foot on 1 other separate occasion. When on the 16th of December he went to the hospital with admitting trench foot.
On the 19 of January 1917, he joined the Étaples class “A” as reinforcement. On the 8th of February 1917, he admitted the ‘effects of cold feet’ and when to the hospital. Then, on the 6th of May, he left the hospital and rejoined the 32nd battalion.
Finally, He died accidentally drowning in a canal on the 16th of August 1917. Being unable to swim. His body was found the next day washed up on land 150 yards of the Pont Asquin.
John O’Brien’s body was buried in the Racquingham Churchyard (West corner of Churchyard) at the time 8 miles West S.West of Hazebrouck.
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