Portrait of 240 Private (Pte) Leslie Glenmore O'Brien (later MM), who was born at Wellington, ...

Portrait of 240 Private (Pte) Leslie Glenmore O'Brien (later MM), who was born at Wellington, NSW, the son of James and Bridget Agnes O'Brien. He was engaged in farming and grazing before enlisting in Wellington on 20 March 1916 together with his cousin Harry O'Brien and a friend named Harry Lord. All three were later to die in fighting on the Western Front in France. Following enlistment, O'Brien served as a member of the 14th Machine Gun Company. Whilst engaged in operations with his unit on the Western Front, O'Brien distinguished himself in action to the extent that he was awarded the Military Medal (MM). The citation for this award read: 'This man displayed most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations in the vicinity of Harbonnieres, east of Villers-Bretonneux, on 8 August 1918. He carried his gun forward through very heavy machine gun and rifle fire and got it into action, dispersing the enemy, thereby allowing the infantry to continue their advance. Throughout the operations, he set a splendid example to his comrades'. In later fighting at Peronne, O'Brien was wounded and on 2 September 1918 he died of these wounds. He was 23 years of age at the time of his death and is buried in the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension in France.