The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (5085) Sergeant William Patrick O’Brien, 29th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Chris Widenbar, the story for this day was on (5085) Sergeant William Patrick O’Brien, 29th Battalion, AIF, First World War.

5085 Sergeant William Patrick O’Brien, 29th Battalion, AIF
KIA 9 August 1918

Today we remember and pay tribute to Sergeant William Patrick O’Brien.

Will O’Brien was born around 1894, the eldest son of Cornelius and Annie O’Brien of Gordon, Victoria. He began his education at the local Roman Catholic school, and later went on to attend St Patrick’s College in Ballarat. He then undertook teacher training in Melbourne, and later became head teacher of the Rosberry East State School near Beulah.

Will O’Brien enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in early 1916. He had had military experience, with a commissioned rank in the local citizens’ militia, and shortly after his enlistment in 1916 he was transferred to the AIF’s instructional staff, based in Australia. He continued working in Australia as staff sergeant major until October 1917, when a call for sergeants led him to again volunteer for service abroad.

In December 1917, on his last leave home, a large gathering in Gordon paid tribute to Will and another local enlistee, Len Cockroft. The two men were given wrist watches in a formal presentation, which the people of the town had bought to show “how much they had appreciated them for going to do their duty”. Will O’Brien “responded, deeply moved, saying that the memento would ever be to him a very pleasant recollection of his friends ... He said that when he volunteered he considered it his duty to go. He had been anxious to do his bit, and he was glad that he had the opportunity.”

A few days later, Sergeant Will O’Brien left Australia on board the troopship Ulysses with reinforcements to the 29th Battalion. After an extended journey, he arrived in England, where he once again took an instructional post, this time on Salisbury Plain.

After several weeks teaching, Sergeant O’Brien was given his chance to fight on the Western Front. He went to France where he served for two months with brigade details in Le Havre, and then joined the 29th Battalion in the field in June 1918.

Exactly two months later, the Australian Corps took part in the battle of Amiens, the opening of the British offensive of that year. The following day, the 29th Battalion pushed forward to take the French village of Vauvillers. After reaching their objective, the men began digging in under fire. Sergeant O’Brien was resting when he was hit by a German shell and killed instantly.

Will O’Brien’s remains were buried near where he fell, but after the war they were reinterred in a cemetery near the village of Serre. When his body was exhumed, a cigarette case bearing his initials was found and returned to his family as a memory of their eldest son. Today his remains lies in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 under the words “May he rest in peace. Amen.” He was 24 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Sergeant William Patrick O’Brien, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section