Alfred O'Brien
Alfred Alphonse O’Brien #3056534
Personal Information: Alfred Alphonse O’Brien was born on January 4, 1897 to William and Julia (Tierney) O’Brien in Appleton, ON, both of whom were 36 years old at the time. He was the fourth of sixth children including Carmal, Katie, John, Blanche and Wlifred. His grandparents, John and Hannah O’Brien, also lived with them. Their farm was located on the 7th District, 12th Concession across from the Cavers and near the Cram farm. He was single, 5’5 ½ “, with blue eyes and reddish brown hair. He weighed 126 pounds when he enlisted in the service. He was Roman Catholic and worked as a farmer. He enlisted on Feb. 6, 1918 in Kingston with the Eastern Ontario Regiment when he was 21 years old.
Medical Records: A.A. O’Brien was never injured during his service. He did get sick, however. He was admitted to the hospital on May 4, 1918 when he caught bronchitis. He was at a training camp in England when he was admitted. Before being sent there, he had a cold for about 2 months and was wheezing at times. He stayed at the hospital for 12 days and was discharged on May 15, 1918. Also, when he had a check up at the dentist, he had a tooth pulled.
Military Movements: Alfred A O’Brien’s regimental number was 3056534. He was a private with the Canadian Army in the 21st battalion. He started in Canada, and then went on a boat to England. He arrived in England on May 3, 1918. He was then sent to the 21st battalion in France on August 9, 1918. He then stayed there until May 4, 1919 where he was sent back to Canada with the rest of the battalion.
Field of Action: He was part of the army that was given the task of moving out from Arras up the Scarpe River to attack Cambrai, which was the heart of the German defense system. It was a difficult task. The ground was ideal for defence and the old British and German trenches were in front of the Canadians. The Germans had constructed the Fresnes-Rouvroy defence line and the Drocourt-Queant defence line. If the Canadians made it past both of these, then there was another defensive line further on in the unfinished Canal du Nord. There was not a lot of time for preparation, so the Canadian Corps didn’t have much back up. At 3am on August 26, 1918, they went in under the cover of darkness and rain. The Germans were caught off guard but resistance stiffened quickly. The Canadians captured 80 prisoners and gained 1,000 yards beyond the old trenches.
A different time that Alfred saw action was when they advanced to Cambrai. The Germans were determined not to lose the city. The Canadians and British were exhausted and they had few tanks and guns because it was hard to drag them forward. This was on Sept. 28, 1918. on Sept. 29, there was little success, and the Corps lost 2,089 men. On Sept. 30, there were also many casualties. On Oct. 1, they received orders to dig in and hold the ground that they had taken. It was all they could do. On Oct. 6, the Canadians started to move again and they moved into Cambrai itself. The main German forces had left and there were only snipers to delay the allies. The final cavalry charge of the war began on Oct. 8, and the Canadians gave crucial support to the British. By Oct. 17, the Allies were chasing the fleeing German armies. The Germans hastily threw together a defensive line, which was called the Hermann line. The city of Valenciennes was right at the hub of it. The Canadians were ordered to attack this city. Five divisions defended the city. Three of them were on and around Mount Houy, which dominated the approaches to the city. The 51st Highland Division was ordered to attack those three, and the Canadian 4th Division was to move onto Valenciennes. General McNaughton gathered together every gun and shell he could find, and they made an elaborate fire plan. At 5:15am on Nov. 1, a massive hail of 2,149 tons of shells fell on Mount Houy’s defenders. Then, the infantry quickly overran the German positions. The only resistance was in the suburbs of Valenciennes and there were not a lot of Allied casualties. The Canadians kept on going all the way to Mons, which was where the first engagement between the British and Germans had occurred in 1914. The Germans were now collapsing and the Allies made great advancements. At 11am on Nov. 11, the fighting stopped. Some Canadians, Alfred included, stayed in Germany as part of the Allied occupation until February, 1919. Alfred was also put on guard duty in Namur for a while. Then, he got sent back to England and finally sailed on the SS Caronia back home on Mar 14, 1919. He was formally discharged at Kingston on May 24, 1919.
Alfred then married Elizabeth Cavanagh, daughter of Walter and Mary (Powers) Cavanagh of Goulbourn Township on Sept 27, 1927 in St. Philip Catholic Church in Richmond, ON. Alfred was 30 years old and Elizabeth was 20 at the time of the marriage. However, Alfred died on Jan. 7, 1930 in Leeds Township at the age of 33. There is no record of children within archives.
Personal Information: Alfred Alphonse O’Brien was born on January 4, 1897 to William and Julia (Tierney) O’Brien in Appleton, ON, both of whom were 36 years old at the time. He was the fourth of sixth children including Carmal, Katie, John, Blanche and Wlifred. His grandparents, John and Hannah O’Brien, also lived with them. Their farm was located on the 7th District, 12th Concession across from the Cavers and near the Cram farm. He was single, 5’5 ½ “, with blue eyes and reddish brown hair. He weighed 126 pounds when he enlisted in the service. He was Roman Catholic and worked as a farmer. He enlisted on Feb. 6, 1918 in Kingston with the Eastern Ontario Regiment when he was 21 years old.
Medical Records: A.A. O’Brien was never injured during his service. He did get sick, however. He was admitted to the hospital on May 4, 1918 when he caught bronchitis. He was at a training camp in England when he was admitted. Before being sent there, he had a cold for about 2 months and was wheezing at times. He stayed at the hospital for 12 days and was discharged on May 15, 1918. Also, when he had a check up at the dentist, he had a tooth pulled.
Military Movements: Alfred A O’Brien’s regimental number was 3056534. He was a private with the Canadian Army in the 21st battalion. He started in Canada, and then went on a boat to England. He arrived in England on May 3, 1918. He was then sent to the 21st battalion in France on August 9, 1918. He then stayed there until May 4, 1919 where he was sent back to Canada with the rest of the battalion.
Field of Action: He was part of the army that was given the task of moving out from Arras up the Scarpe River to attack Cambrai, which was the heart of the German defense system. It was a difficult task. The ground was ideal for defence and the old British and German trenches were in front of the Canadians. The Germans had constructed the Fresnes-Rouvroy defence line and the Drocourt-Queant defence line. If the Canadians made it past both of these, then there was another defensive line further on in the unfinished Canal du Nord. There was not a lot of time for preparation, so the Canadian Corps didn’t have much back up. At 3am on August 26, 1918, they went in under the cover of darkness and rain. The Germans were caught off guard but resistance stiffened quickly. The Canadians captured 80 prisoners and gained 1,000 yards beyond the old trenches.
A different time that Alfred saw action was when they advanced to Cambrai. The Germans were determined not to lose the city. The Canadians and British were exhausted and they had few tanks and guns because it was hard to drag them forward. This was on Sept. 28, 1918. on Sept. 29, there was little success, and the Corps lost 2,089 men. On Sept. 30, there were also many casualties. On Oct. 1, they received orders to dig in and hold the ground that they had taken. It was all they could do. On Oct. 6, the Canadians started to move again and they moved into Cambrai itself. The main German forces had left and there were only snipers to delay the allies. The final cavalry charge of the war began on Oct. 8, and the Canadians gave crucial support to the British. By Oct. 17, the Allies were chasing the fleeing German armies. The Germans hastily threw together a defensive line, which was called the Hermann line. The city of Valenciennes was right at the hub of it. The Canadians were ordered to attack this city. Five divisions defended the city. Three of them were on and around Mount Houy, which dominated the approaches to the city. The 51st Highland Division was ordered to attack those three, and the Canadian 4th Division was to move onto Valenciennes. General McNaughton gathered together every gun and shell he could find, and they made an elaborate fire plan. At 5:15am on Nov. 1, a massive hail of 2,149 tons of shells fell on Mount Houy’s defenders. Then, the infantry quickly overran the German positions. The only resistance was in the suburbs of Valenciennes and there were not a lot of Allied casualties. The Canadians kept on going all the way to Mons, which was where the first engagement between the British and Germans had occurred in 1914. The Germans were now collapsing and the Allies made great advancements. At 11am on Nov. 11, the fighting stopped. Some Canadians, Alfred included, stayed in Germany as part of the Allied occupation until February, 1919. Alfred was also put on guard duty in Namur for a while. Then, he got sent back to England and finally sailed on the SS Caronia back home on Mar 14, 1919. He was formally discharged at Kingston on May 24, 1919.
Alfred then married Elizabeth Cavanagh, daughter of Walter and Mary (Powers) Cavanagh of Goulbourn Township on Sept 27, 1927 in St. Philip Catholic Church in Richmond, ON. Alfred was 30 years old and Elizabeth was 20 at the time of the marriage. However, Alfred died on Jan. 7, 1930 in Leeds Township at the age of 33. There is no record of children within archives.