Private John William O'Brien
6th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 1895
Place of Birth: St. Pancreas, Kentish Town London
Date of Death: 25 March 1918 aged 22
Buried: Arras Memorial, France
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Private John William O'Brien age 22.
Born in 1895 in St. Pancras, London, John William was the eldest son of John Henry, and Frances (Fanny) E. O'Brien who were also born in the city.
The 1901 census showed him living with his mother and his younger brother Earnest, in Portsmouth, his father was at sea.
The 1911 census shows that John William had a sister Elsie born in 1902 in Kentish Town, London and two more brothers both of whomn had been born in Rosscarbery in County Cork, Ireland (George, born 1905 and Horace born 1907). His younger brother Earnest had died.
This census also shows that in 1911 the family was living at 4 Coast Guard Station, Teignmouth, where his father was a Commisioned Boatman in Her Majesty’s Coastguard (then an adjunct of the Royal Navy and under the control of the British Admiralty).
John William's father was killed in 1915 whilst serving with the Royal Navy off Gallipoli.
Cap Badge of the Dorsetshire Regiment. © IWM (INS 7213)
Enlisting at Exeter with Royal Devonshire Yeomanry, service number 3467, John later was transferred to 6th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, service number 22158.
He was with his battalion at the Battle of St. Quentin when he was killed in action on 25 March 1918. Remembered on Arras Memorial, France.
24th March 1918...The Brigade moved to Flers to Eaucourt L' Abbaye where a position was taken up in the night and consolidated...
Early on the morning of the 25th intense M gun and rifle duels took place between us and the enemy, from ridges respectively occupied. Enemy sniping was very accurate and our casualties were heavy.
Extract from the War Diary of the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment
Extract from the 6th Battalion of the Dorsetshire Regiment war diary for 25 March 1918
