Collection search - William Joseph O'Brien fonds [textual record, graphic material, object]

Record information – Brief
1
William Joseph O'Brien fonds [textual record, graphic material, object]

Hierarchical level:

Fonds

Date:

1914-1920, 1980-1986.

Reference:

R2566-0-9-E, MG30-E389

Type of material:

Textual material, Photographs, Objects (including medals and pins)

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

104692

Context of this record:

Show detail Hide detail

William Joseph O'Brien fonds
Link to this record

Add to My Research

Link to this record

This link identifies the web page describing this particular record. Unlike the temporary link in your browser, this link will allow you to access, and reference, this page in the future. To link to this descriptive record, copy and paste the URL where ever needed (wiki, blog, document).

Sign in

Sign in to start saving records using My Research

Sign in
Record information – Details
Fonds includes:

2 lower level description(s)
View lower level description(s)

Date(s):

1914-1920, 1980-1986.

Place of creation:

No place, unknown, or undetermined

Extent:

10.1 cm of textual records.
2 photographs b&w.
2 medals.

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

Show detail Hide detail

Fonds consists of a diary which records Lt. O'Brien's First World War service from 17 January 1916 to 9 May 1919 with the Canadian Field Artillery; also, edited transcripts of the diary and reminiscences of Lt. O'Brien's career prepared by his son, J.R. O'Brien in 1980-1981; two field messages transmitting the Armistice cease fire order of 11 November 1918; a booklet "The 1st Canadian Division In The Battles of 1918 (1919)"; a published Final Order of the Day (1919) by Major-General Sir A.C. Macdonell; a British Army Ordnance map of Belgium and part of France, 1917; and a Bank of Montreal pass book, 1917-1919.

Also included in the fonds is a photograph of Lt. O'Brien, England, ca. Nov. 1917; and a photograph of O'Brien and his batman, Gunner John Bee, Royal Air Force, taken ca. 1917.

The fonds also contains a First World War British military medal and a First World War Victory medal, 1914-1918.

Provenance:

Show detail Hide detail

O'Brien, William Joseph, 1886-1943
Additional name(s):

Show detail Hide detail

Canada. Armée canadienne. Corps expéditionnaire canadien

Canada. Canadian Army. Canadian Expeditionary Force

O'Brien, William Joseph, 1886-1943
Biography/Administrative history:

Show detail Hide detail

O'Brien, William Joseph, 1886-1943 : William Joseph O'Brien, born in 1886 at Lindsay, Ont., was a student at Osgoode Hall law school when World War I began. He enlisted in the 25th Battery, 7th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery on 17 March 1915. After training at Ottawa and Barriefield he left Montreal with a small draft of men on 29 June and landed at Plymouth, England, 9 July 1915.

Following brief service with the Reserve Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery at Shorncliffe O'Brien was drafted into the 23rd (Howitzer) Battery, 5th Brigade and commenced training at Otterpool, Kent in September, 1915. Upon completion of firing practice at Larkhill in December 1915, the battery embarked for France on 18 January 1916. On 4 February, 1916 Corporal O'Brien went into line with his unit near Hill 60 and began three years of service on the western front. After completing officer training courses at Shorncliffe and Witley Camps, May-September, 1917, O'Brien was promoted lieutenant and posted to the 1st Battery, 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. After the armistice, Lt. O'Brien served with his unit in the march to the Rhine and the occupation of the Cologne bridgehead.

He returned to England in March, 1919 and embarked for Canada on 29 April, landing at Halifax on 7 May. Upon his return from overseas service he completed his legal studies at Osgoode Hall and after his admission to the bar in 1920 he joined the Chartered Trust Company. He died at Toronto, 5 November 1943.

Finding aid:

Show detail Hide detail

(Paper) Medal inventory cards: 10611, 10612.

Additional information:

Show detail Hide detail

General note:

Received in 1981 from John Martin O'Brien of Thornhill, Ont. and in 1987 from W.H. O'Brien of Toronto, Ont.
Subject heading:

Show detail Hide detail

World War, 1914-1918

Guerre mondiale, 1914-1918
Source:

Private

Related control no.:

Show detail Hide detail

1981-042 MED
1981-208 NPC
MG30-E389

Former archival reference no.:

Show detail Hide detail

MG30-E389
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

Show detail Hide detail

Textual records

[Consultation90 Open]

Volume [MG30 E 389] 1

[Consultation 90 Open]

Graphic (photo)

[Consultation90 Open]

Box [O'BRIEN, WILLIAM JOSEPH 1981-208] 3748

[Consultation 90 Open]

Object

[Consultation90 Open]

Terms of use:

Show detail Hide detail

Photographs: No restrictions on use or reproduction. Copyright is expired. Credit: Name of photographer / National Archives of Canada / Copy negative no.
Medals: Open for purposes of research and publication. Copyright is expired. Credit: National Archives of Canada.

You can order materials in advance to be ready for you when you visit. You will need a user card to do this.

Cannot visit us on site? You can purchase a copy to be sent to you. Some restrictions may apply.

Report a problem on this page

Date modified:: 2024-04-09