John Benjamin O'Brien

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 09/01/2017 - 15:42

First Name:

John

Middle Name:

Benjamin

Last Name:

O'Brien

Date of Birth:

Sunday, June 3, 1894

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth O'Brien nee Allen

Father's Name:

Henry O'Brien

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, January 19, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Corporal

Unit:

8th Light Horse Regiment

Service:

Cavalry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, September 11, 1959

Place of Death:

Thirroul, N.S.W.

Details:

John O'Brien (Service No 2887 & 3070) was born in Gerringong, N.S.W.

At enlistment John was single, 21 years old, and worked as an engine cleaner. Initially assigned the Service No 2887 this number was amended to 3070 when he embarked overseas a second time. John nominated his mother who lived in Wollongong, N.S.W. as his next of kin.

John first embarked from Melbourne on RMS Malwa (Service No 2887) with 20th Reinforcements, 1st Light Horse Regiment on 22nd July 1916 but due to illness was disembarked.

On 31st January 1917 he re-embarked, from Sydney, having been assigned the Service No 3070, on HMAT A25 Anglo-Egyptian with 23rd Reinforcements, 8th Light Horse Regiment.

He arrived in Egypt on 3rd March 1917and joined 8th Light Horse Regiment on 20th March 1917.

John saw service until 1st December 1917 when he was wounded and evacuated to hospital for treatment of a gun shot wound to his right shoulder.

On 9th January 1919 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, and again on 10th June 1919 to Corporal.

He returned to Australia in July 1919 and was discharged on 20th September 1919.

He married Agnes McLoughlan in Victoria and they had 5 children.

John died in Thirroul in 1959.

John's brothers George and James also served.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, O'BRIEN JOHN BENJAMIN (Service No 3070)