O'Brien Michael Francis Gunner 1078380

Personnel Entry

Gunner Francis O'Brien

Name O'Brien Michael Francis
Army number 1078380
Rank Gunner
Decorations None known other than service medals.
Date of birth 26/11/1908 - his Enlistment documentation shows 1909 and 1939 General Register shows 1910 as his birth year. 1908 was shown on both his Birth and Death Certificates.
Age 77 at the time of his death).
Unit Enlisted in the Royal Artillery 12/9/1940 under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act 1939 for the duration of the emergency. Posted to 51st Anti-Tank Training Regiment at Catterick for basic training 12/9/1940. Posted to 501st Coastal Regiment, Royal Artillery at Catterick 15/10/1940. Posted to 423rd Coastal Battery 1/1/1941 at Cromarty. Posted to 520th Coastal Battery (Regimented with 423rd Battery) at Dover 16/3/1941. Transferred to Field Branch, Royal Artillery 10/10/1944 and posted to 88th Anti-Tank Regiment. Proceeded on Draft REPUS 22/11/1944. Embarked for BLA X(iv) List 22/11/1944. Taken on strength 49th Regimental Holding Unit from 88th Anti-Tank Regiment in North West Europe 25/11/1944. Intraposted to 91 Regimental Holding Unit North West Europe. Posted from X List 31 Regimental Holding Unit and Taken on Strength 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment. Posted to 54th Anti-Tank Regiment and Taken on Strength 25/9/1945. Posted to Z (T) Reserve 7/12/1945. On leave prior to A Class Release 8/12/1945 - 13/2/1946 (part of which was overseas). Class A Release 13/2/1946.
Company/Battery 423 Coastal, 520 Coastal.
Platoon or other sub-unit
Task or role Gunner.
Joined Brigade Gunner O'Brien joined 88th Anti-Tank Regiment after the disbandment of 70th Infantry Brigade.
Promotions None known.
Wounded Not as far as is known.
Prisoner of War Not so far as is known.
Died/Killed in action Date of death 25/6/1995 at Clover Nursing Home, Clotherholme Road, Ripon, N Yorks. Cause of death - hepato cellular carcinoma.
Home address Aged 2 at the time of the 1911 Census and resident at 36, Stonehall Street, Anfield, Liverpool. Included in the 1939 General Register - lived then at 36 Harebell Street, Liverpool. Worked as a Poultryman before enlistment. Next of Kin on enlistment - father - Michael O'Brien, 36 Harebell Street, Liverpool 5. Mother Elen (nee Adams). Married at the age of 52 on 25/3/1961 to Ethel Maud Chambers who then lived at 48 Harebell Street, Liverpool. Worked as an Inspector at the Royal Ordnance Factories. Lived in Flat 29, The Meads, South Crescent, Ripon, N Yorks - possibly after retirement.
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