Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
O'Brien J is listed on the Auburn War Memorial and on the Municipality of Auburn Honour Roll 1914-1919. O'Brien J is also on Auburn's South Parade Temporary Roll of Honour.
The Australian War Memorial Canberra Roll of Honour lists 22 men with the name O'Brien J, but in the National Archives dossiers, there is no connection with Auburn for any of them. The closest possibility is 2180 John Patrick O'Brien of Rozelle, an apprentice in the Cockatoo Island Dockyards. He had just turned 19 when he was killed on the first day at Pozieres.
There is an O'Brien J on the 1914-1918 Honour Roll of Auburn North Public School, but there is no cross against this name like against the names of 10 other men on the roll who died in the war. The cross has also been omitted from the name of Reynolds W on the Auburn North School Honour Roll. Perhaps the omissions were made when the Honour Roll was first unveiled or when the board was restored by the Auburn RSL sub-Branch in 2007.
J O'Brien is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Auburn North Public School Great War Roll of Honor
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20