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Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne
Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

O’Brien, Hubert Denis (5063)

Place of Birth: Port Melbourne, VIC

Age: 29 years 10 months

Enlistment Details: Tuesday, 22 February 1916 – Melbourne, VIC

Service Number: 5063            view online service record

Address:
Grant Street
Alexandra, VIC

Next of Kin:
Mary Butler (mother-in-law)
Grant Street
Alexandra, VIC

Embarkation Details:
Date: Monday, 3 July 1916
Ship: HMAT Ayrshire A33
Port: Melbourne, VIC
Unit: 21st Infantry Battalion – 13th Reinforcements

Fate:
KIA: Sunday, 25 February 1917
Place: France


Lance Corporal, 21 Infantry, killed in action 25 February, 1917, aged 30, commemorated Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, Picardie, France.

Mother-in-law: Mrs Mary BUTLER, born Port Melbourne. O’Brien enlisted as a 29-year-old wood worker, a widower with his mother-in-law in Alexandra as next of kin; she was also listed as guardian of his two daughters, Mary and Bertha. No known grave; eyewitnesses suggested he and others were buried after being killed by a high explosive shell, but not subsequently located. No circular returned.

Additional research by Brian Membrey

1 Comments

  • Brian Membrey
    Posted October 18, 2016 6.26 pm 0Likes

    “I buried these (eight) men at Sand Bag Barrier, Le Sars on 26th February, 1917. They were killed by a H.E. shell while going out of fatigue duty. They were killed where they fell” (L/Cpl G. J. Leith, 4744. Private address 63 Canterbury Road, Middle Park)

    “… he came from Gippsland and I think he was employed in the saw milling industry before the war … he was a widower and I think one child, about 34 years of age, dark and clean shaven …” (Pte C.V. Cooper, 5001) Other eyewitnesses confimed seven others were killed by the same shell.

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