William Charles Joseph OBrien

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 09/01/2017 - 15:08

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Charles Joseph

Last Name:

OBrien

Date of Birth:

Saturday, April 9, 1892

Mother's Name:

Johanna O'Brien

Father's Name:

William O'Brien

Date Enlisted:

Monday, October 25, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Lance Corporal

Unit:

1st Field Engineers

Company:

13th

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Details:

William O'Brien (Service No 16248) was born in Unanderra, N.S.W.

At enlistment, William was single, 23 years old, worked as an electrician, and lived at Randwick, N.S.W. William's father who lived at Unanderra was his next of kin.

William embarked from Sydney on HMAT A35 Berrima on 17th December 1915 but became sick and was disembarked before sailing. It was almost a year later, on 11th November 1916 that William finally embarked overseas, on HMAT A29 Suevic serving as the ship's Sergeant Major.

On arrival in England on 30th January 1917 he reverted to Private.

William joined 13th Company in France on 24th April 1917 and saw service on the Western Front.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 19th October 1917.

William was returned to Australia in May 1919 and discharged medically unfit on 14th August 1919.

Sometime between 1919 and World War II, William married Mildred Harris.

He enlisted in the Army in 2nd World War (Service No V374023) nominating his wife, Mildred, as his next of kin.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, O'BRIEN WILLIAM CHARLES JOSEPH