| Regimental number | 4489 |
| Place of birth | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Bookkeeper |
| Address | Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Height | 5' 3.75" |
| Weight | 124 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, John Patrick O'Brien, Police Barracks, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of teeth) |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Broken Hill, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, 12th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A35 Berrima on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 43rd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Hamel, France |
| Age at death | 25 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 25 |
| Place of burial | Crucifix Corner Cemetery (Plot IX, Row D, Grave No. 21), Villers-Bretonneux, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 137 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Patrick John and Agnes Julia O'BRIEN, Anthony Street, Largs Bay, South Australia. Native of Adelaide, South Australia |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Adelaide, 16 December 1916, and appointed Acting Sergeant (Voyage Only); disembarked Devonport, England, 16 February 1917; marched in to 8th Training Bn, Hurdcott, 8 February 1917, and reverted to Private. Appointed Extra Duty Pay Sergeant, 18 March 1917. On Command Physical Training & Bayonet Fighting School, Chelsea, 21 May 1917; marched in to 8th Training Bn from PT&BF School, 12 June 1917. On Command, NCOs School, Kandahar Barracks, Tidworth, 30 July 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 26 September 1917, and reverted to Private; taken on strength, 43rd Bn, in the field, 8 October 1917. Appointed Lance Corporal, 6 November 1917. Appointed Temporary Corporal, 6 November 1917; reverted to Lance Corporal, 17 November 1917. Detached to Brigade School, 18 November 1917, and appointed Acting Sergeant. Rejoined Bn, in the field, 23 November 1917, and reverted to Lance Corporal. Detached to Gas School, 20 January 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, 27 January 1918. On leave to England, 15 March 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 4 April 1918. Killed in action, 4 July 1918. Note, Red Cross File No 2030311A: 'Buried 850 yards W of Hamel. Cert. by Capt. Speddings List' Statement, 833 Sergeant T. COPE, 10 September 1919: 'He was killed at Hamel in July 1918. Buried just behind Hamel. I saw his grave with cross erected and name and number.' Second statement, 3197 Pte D.J. MURPHY, 43rd Bn (patient, Tooting Grove Military Hospital, London, England), 23 January 1919: 'On July 4th 1918 at Hamel we were just lying out in front of the German wires, when a few of our own shells fell about and O'Brien was killed. I was hit at the same time - so did not see this casualty happen, but the boys told me afterwards. He used to work at a place called Broken Hill, (Silver Mines) New South Wales.' Note by interviewer: 'Reliable'. Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, O'BRIEN Leslie Victor
Red Cross File No 2030311A |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
