Andrew Joseph O'BRIEN

Regimental number25/667
Date of birth14 June 1882
Place of birthWaikawa
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationFarmer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation33
Height5' 10"
Weight180 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs O'Brien, Slope Point, Southland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date11 October 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationRifleman
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 5 February 1916
Final rankRifleman
Final unit3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records35
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsTyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel No 7), nr Ieper, Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records		Parents: Jeremiah and Annie O'Brien, Slope Point, Southland. Native of Waikawa, Invercargill
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington on board HMNZT 'Ulimaroa', 5 February 1916; disembarked Suez, 13 March 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, France, 7 April 1916.

Admitted to 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, 17 April 1916; transferred to General Hospital, Rouen, 30 April 1916 (suspected enteric); transferred to England, 11 May 1916, and admitted to Netley Hospital, 12 May 1916; transferred to Convalescent Camp, Addington, 9 June 1916; to NZ Command Depot, Codford, 4 September 1916; to Sling Camp, 11 November 1916.

Rejoined unit in France, 1 January 1917.

On leave to Paris, 13 August 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 21 August 1917.

Wounded in action, 12 October 1917.

Now, 15 November 917, reported wounded and missing, 12 October 1917.

Court of Enquiry, 18 April 1918, concluded: 'Killed in action, 12 October 1917.'

Note on file, Adjutant, 3nd Bn, NZ Rifle Brigade: Rfm. O'Brien went into action with the Bn at Passchendaele on 12th October 1917. He was reported as wnd & missing. No evidence forthcoming to show that he passed through Hospitals or any Mil Base since that day.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 24, p. 16
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 21381338