The AIF Project

James O'BRIEN

Regimental number1509
Place of birthBeaufort, Victoria
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationButcher
AddressMathoura, New South Wales
Marital statusWidower
Age at embarkation42
Height5' 5"
Weight138 lbs
Next of kinDaughter, R. O'Brien, Kelvin Grove, Francis Street, Yarraville, Victoria
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date15 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name4th Light Horse Regiment, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/9/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A56 Palermo on 29 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollGunner
Unit from Nominal Roll10th Field Artillery Brigade
FateReturned to Australia 31 January 1918
Date of death11 June 1920
Age at death from cemetery records47
Place of burialNew Melbourne Cemetery (Plot G, Grave No. 1158, Fawkner, Victoria
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
16
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Son of Henry O'BRIEN. Plaque in Garden of Remembrance, Victoria.
Discharge date14 November 1918
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Taken on strength of 2nd Australian Division Ammunition Column, Zeitoun, 10 March 1916.

Taken on strength of 12th Brigade Ammunition Column, Serapeum, 13 April 1916.

Transferred to Artillery Training Depot, 28 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 7 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 15 June 1916.

Taken on strength of 4th Division Ammunition Column, 26 June 1916.

Transferred to 4th Division Trench Mortar Battery, 12 August 1916; taken on strength of 4th Division Trench Mortar Battery, 1 September 1916.

Transferred to 10th Field Artillery Brigade, 25 October 1917.

Wounded in action, 1 November 1917, and admitted to No 3 Australian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No 24 General Hospital, Etaples, the same day (shrapnel wound, right leg); to England, 7 November 1917; to Temporary Hospital, Exeter, 8 November 1917; to No 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, 12 January 1918; discharged and marched into No 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott, 15 January 1918.

Marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 18 January 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Argyllshire', 31 January 1918 (premature senility).

Found guilty, 21 March 1918, of (1) being absent without leave; (2) breaking ship after embarkation: awarded 28 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Disembarked Melbourne, ex-HT 'Osterley', 13 April 1918.

Medical report, 11 May 1918, 'he is suffering from a mild type of mania, some persecutory ideas, is restless and noisy. Noisy, especially at night when he yells and raised his Ward. He is voluble and extravagant in his language. Sweats freely, memory occasionally shows some defect. Thin, grey hair; looks older than his years. Recommended transference to Royal Park Military Mental Hospital.'

Discharged Melbourne (medically unfit), 14 November 1918.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Died of myocarditis, 16th General Hospital, Macleod, 11 June 1920.
SourcesNAA: B2455, O'BRIEN James

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