George Thomas O'Brien

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 09/01/2017 - 15:56

First Name:

George

Middle Name:

Thomas

Last Name:

O'Brien

Mother's Name:

Elizabeth O'Brien nee Allen

Father's Name:

Henry O'Brien

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, August 5, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

13th battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Thursday, July 25, 1929

Details:

George O'Brien (Service No 6787) was born in Gerringong, N.S.W. around 1897.

At enlistment George was single, 19 years old, worked as a quarryman,and lived in Wollongong, N.S.W. George had served in the CMF. He was the only one of 3 brothers (James & John) to serve with the infantry.

He embarked from Sydney on SS Port Nicholson with 22nd Reinforcements, 13th Battalion on 8th November 1916.

He arrived in England on 10th January 1917 but after becoming sick George was admitted to hospital on 1st February with influenza which developed into pneumonia.

George joined 13th Battalion in Belgium on 20th September 1917 and saw service on the Western Front until 3rd May 1918 when he was wounded and evacuated to hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds to his right hand.

He was returned to Australia in January 1919 and discharged medically unfit on 9th April 1919.

In 1925 he married Vina Pepper at Ashfield.

George died in 1929.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, O'BRIEN GEORGE THOMAS