Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

10/07/1916

Date of Discharge

10/08/1918

Place of Enlistment

Duntroon ACT

Gender

Male

Place of Birth

Goulburn NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Wilson Street, Redfern NSW (previously Duntroon ACT)

Occupation

Bricklayer's labourer

Next of Kin

Annie O'Brien (wife), Wilson Street, Redfern NSW

Service Number

3195

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

55 Battalion AIF

O'Brien originally enlisted on 4 April 1916 in Goulburn but was discharged medically unfit with deafness two months later. He joined the Home Guard at the Officer Training School at Duntroon in July 1916 and served there for three months before being accepted into the AIF and embarking with reinforcements for the 55th Battalion in November 1916. He arrived in France in July 1917 but only spent one week at the frontline before being evacuated sick. He returned to Australia in May 1918 and was discharged as medically unfit with chronic bronchitis.

Description - height 6 feet ¼ inches, weight 162 pounds, chest 35½ to 37½ inches, dark complexion, grey eyes, black hair, Catholic.

NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)