Edward Patrick Thomas O'Brien

Personal Information
Date of Birth	not known
Place of Birth	Pingelly, Western Australia
Death	17 Jan 1953
Age at Enlistment	33 years, 3 months
Description	5'10" (1.m) tall; weight 152 lbs (kg); fair complexion, grey eyes, fair hair.
Occupation	Stockman
Religion	Roman Catholic
Address	Derby, Western AUstralia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Maria Thomas
Military Information
Reg Number	4569
Date of Enlistment	22 Oct 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	12 Feb 1916 - 10 Mar 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A28 Miltiades
Date of Return	9 Dec 1918 - 23 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A8 Argyllshire
Fate	Wounded in action 7 May 1917 2nd Bullecourt Wounded in action 20 Sep 1917 Menin Road
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Two months after entering camp, Edward was allocated to the 14th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion, but before he could go overseas he was admitted to the 8th Australian General Hospital in Fremantle on 16 Dec 1915 (no reason given or discharge date in his records).

On arrival at Suez, Edward was quickly processed and on 29 Mar 1916 he embarked on the HMT Transylvania for Marseilles, arriving there on 4 Apr 1916. Sent initially to the Base Depot in Étaples, he joined the 11th Battalion on 17 May 1916 in the Petillon Sector of the front lines.

A week later he fell ill with the mumps and after being seen by the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, he was passed on 23 May 1916 to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station who in turn passed him onto the 7th General Hospital at St Omer on 24 May 1916. On 13 Jun 1916 he was admitted to the 4th Stationary Hospital at Arques by which time he was regarded as having debility, causing him to on 23 Jun 1916 be transferred to the 25th General Hospital in Camiers, and then on 26 Jun 1916 evacuated to England aboard HMHS St Denis from Boulogne.

In England he was admitted to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital on 26 Jun 1916. Recovered, he was eventually cycled through the 3rd Training Battalion, and sent to France again on 21 Aug 1916, rejoining the 11th Battalion on 4 Sep 1916.

On 9 Nov 1916 he was admitted to the 2nd Australian General Hospital with myalgia, and two days later he was passed to the 1st General Hospital at Etretat who, after treating, him discharged him to the Base Depot on 25 Nov 1916. However, before he could rejoin his unit he was again in hospital on 7 Dec 1916 with PUO (undefined infection), and was discharged again to the Base Depot on 22 Dec 1916. Rejoining the 11th Battalion on 10 Jan 1917, he was again in hospital on 29 Jan 1917, this time with Laryngitis, returning to duty on 17 Feb 1917 at the Base Depot, and reaching the battalion again on 6 Mar 1917.

Edward was wounded in action on 6 May 1917 when the enemy attacked his unit which was in the front lines near Bapaume. Passing through the hands of the 5th Field Ambulance and the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 7 May 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Canadian General Hospital who on 10 May evacuated him to England aboard the HS Stad Antwerpen.

In England he was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital with shrapnel wounds to his right arm. Granted furlough on his recovery from 27 Jun 1917 until 11 Jul 1917 he began the rotation around units who assessed his ability to contribute further at the front. While being assessed he was charged with neglecting to obey an order of his superior officer, forfeiting a day's pay. Assessed as capable he entered France once more, this time from Southampton, and on 9 Sep 1917 he was back with the 11th Battalion.

Wounded in action a second time on 20 Sep 1917 during the battle of Menin Road in Belgium, this time with a gun shot wound to the neck. Treated by the 6th Australian Field Ambulance and then the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, he was sent to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport who on 25 Sep 1917 evacuated him to England aboard HMAT A69 Warilda which at that time was acting as a Hospital Ship.

In England he was admitted to the 5th Southern General Hospital in Portsmouth before being transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 29 Oct 1917. On recovering he was again granted furlough, from 30 Oct 1917 until 13 Nov 1917. While on leave he developed influenza and was sent to the base hospital at Sutton Veny. Here the illness took a turn for the worse becoming bronchitis and then Myalgia. Edward does not re-enter France seeming to spend his time in British based units.

Discharged at 5th Military Ditrict on 4 Apr 1919.

Notes

No connection with Jarrahdale yet established, but is the most likely match for E O'Brien on the Jarrahdale Honour Roll.