O'BRIEN, John Thomas
| Service Number: | 1426 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 July 1915, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Elphinstone, Victoria, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Elphinstone, Mount Alexander, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Elphinstone State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Memorials: | Elphinstone State School Roll of Honor, Elphinstone War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1426, 29th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1426, 29th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 10 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1426, 29th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Melbourne | |
| 4 May 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Egypt | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1426, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1426, 5th Pioneer Battalion, German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line and Outpost Villages, GSW left buttock. | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1426, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Polygon Wood | |
| 29 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1426, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal | |
| 14 May 1919: | Honoured Military Medal, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal, At BELLICOURT on 29th September 1918 | |
| 24 Sep 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1426, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Returned to Australia 13 April 1919 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Wight
Military Medal
'At BELLICOURT on 29th September 1918, Private O'BRIEN was accompanying his platoon officer through the village, when the officer was wounded. Private O'BRIEN immediately assisted him, and got him to a place of safety. The village was being heavily shelled at the time but Private O'BRIEN after having obtained volunteers returned to the village, and carried his officer to a dugout well clear. He showed exceptional courage throughout the remainder of the day in carrying messages successfully through the heaviest fife for his Company Commander.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109
Date: 15 September 1919
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