The AIF Project

William Joseph O'BRIEN

Regimental number3413
Place of birthManilla, New South Wales
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarm hand
AddressWest Tamworth, New South Wales
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation33
Height5' 7"
Weight161 lbs
Next of kinSister, M. Bailey, West Tamworth, New South Wales
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date3 August 1915
Place of enlistmentNarrabri, New South Wales
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name4th Battalion, 11th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/21/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 13 October 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSapper
Unit from Nominal Roll5th Divisional Signal Company
FateReturned to Australia 28 November 1918
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Patrick and Annie O'BRIEN
Discharge date24 February 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Admitted to No 4 Auxiliary Hospital, Abbassia, 5 December 1915 (mumps).

Allotted to 53rd Bn from 1st Training Bn, Zeitoun, 16 February 1916, and taken on strength of 53rd Bn, Tel el Kebir, the same day.

Transferred to 5th Division Signal Company, 15 March 1916; taken on strength of 5th Division Signal Company, Tel el Kebir, 16 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916.

On leave to England, 16 June 1917; rejoined unit, 29 June 1917.

Wounded in action, 14 May 1918; admitted to No 14 Australian Field Ambulance, 14 May 1918 (gassed); transferred to Casualty Clearing Station, 14 May 1918; to No 28 Ambulance Train, 14 May 1918; to No 9 General Hospital, Rouen, 15 May 1918; to England, 18 May 1918; to Northampton War Hosptial, Duston, 19 May 1918; discharged to furlough, 17 June 1918.

Marched into No 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, 1 July 1918 (Class B1A2).

Found guilty, 1 July 1918, of being absent without leave from 1030 hours, until 1120 hours, 1 July 1918: award, admonished.

Marched into No 2 Command Depot, Weymouth, 25 October 1918.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Suevic', 20 November 1918; disembarked Melbourne, 24 February 1919; discharged Sydney (medically unfit: rheumatism), 24 February 1919.

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

Death attributed to war service.
Date of death19 December 1936
Age at death55
Place of burialRookwood Necropolis, New South Wales
SourcesNAA: B2455, O'BRIEN William Joseph

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.