O'BRIEN, Nicholas
| Service Numbers: | 228, Officer, Q185298 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 September 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Tralee, Ireland, 1 November 1881 |
| Home Town: | Eagle Farm, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Norman School. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Telegraphist |
| Died: | 1 December 1948, aged 67 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Nudgee Cemetery & Crematorium, Brisbane A1-08-53. |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 228, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 1901: | Promoted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 498 notes promoted to Corporal 4 Mar 1901. | |
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 228, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Corporal, 228, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Officer, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Melbourne |
World War 2 Service
| 10 Jul 1940: | Involvement Major, Q185298 | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, Q185298 | |
| 10 Jul 1940: | Enlisted | |
| 7 Dec 1943: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, Q185298 | |
| 7 Dec 1943: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
COL. O'BRIEN
DIES AT 67
After 45 years of army service Lieut.-Colonel Nicholas O'Brien, of Wooloowin, has died aged 67. Although he was placed on the officers' reserve in 1938 after 40 years' continuous service, he was called into Movement Control during the war, and later took a position with the U.S. Forces. Lieut.-Colonel O'Brien held the Long Service Medal and the Volunteer officers' Decoration, a total of 40 years service being necessary to hold both.
Born at Tralee, Ireland, he came to Australia at an early age, and was educated at the Normal School. Brisbane. Boer War veteran He joined the Queensland Volunteer Rifles in 1898 and fought in the Boer War, receiving the Queen's Medal and five bars. Returning to Australia he rejoined the Militia. He was at the Gallipoli landing in the first world war. He was mentioned in dispatches. He returned to Australia after having been wounded.
He has left a widow, one son and a married daughter.
DEATH OF BOER
WAR VETERAN
One of the few remaining Boer War veterans in Queensland has died. He was Colonel Nicholas O'Brien, of Roseleigh Street, Kalinga. He joined the Queensland Railway Department as a lad in 1899, and was still in his teens when he went, to his first war. He subsequently served in the two World Wars, working in the intervening years as a railway stores clerk. His railway experience was put to special use in the Second World War. After attain ing the rank of Colonel of Signals in the Australian Militia, he was transferred to the U.S. Army as its transport officer at Roma Street.
Between wars he took a keen interest in ex-service men's activities and was' for a time president of the Railways Sub-branch of the R.S.S.A.I.L.A. For 25 years he had been a marshal at Anzac Day ceremonials.
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