| Regimental number | 4385 |
| Place of birth | Cygnet, Tasmania |
| School | Cygnet State School, Tasmania |
| Other training | nil |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Orchardist |
| Address | Leith Walk, Cygnet, Tasmania |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 25 |
| Next of kin | Father, E O'Brien, Cygnet, Tasmania |
| Previous military service | Served in Citizen Military Forces. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 15th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/32/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 15th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Military Medal Recommendation date: |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Diary and all personal belongings were lost when 'Barunga' was torpedoed. |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of death or wounding | Fonquevillers, Somme, France |
| Age at death | 27 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 27 |
| Place of burial | Fonquevillers Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row E, Grave No. 20), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 77 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Edward Charles and Emma O'BRIEN, Cygnet, Tasmania |
| Medals |
Military Medal 'Was conspicuous for his splendid courage on night of 1st/2nd February, 1917, in action north east of GUEUDECOURT. He was in charge of a party carrying bombs, ammunition and rations to captured enemy trench and had to pass through heavy enemy artillery barrages. He did five trips under this heavy fire and showed utter disregard for his own safety.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 133 Date: |
| Family/military connections | Brother-in-law: 1603 Sergeant L.H. Gures, died in England of illness contracted at Gallipoli, 4 April 1916. He also served in the Mounted Infantry during the Boer War. |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
