James O'Brien

Military Information

  • Date of enlistment:
  • Place of enlistment: Dundee
  • Service no: 2764
  • Rank: Private
  • Service Occupation:
  • Awards:
  • Regiment/Service: Black Watch
  • Unit/Ship: 4th Battalion
  • Place of Death: France
  • Age at Death: 41
  • Date of Death: 09/05/1915
  • Burial Country: France
  • Cemetery: Le Touret Memorial
  • Grave/Mem Ref no: Panels 24 to 26.

Personal Information

  • Date of Birth:
  • Place of Birth: Dundee
  • Address: 20 Pole St, Dundee
  • Occupation:
  • Mother:

    Rose Ann O’Brien, 20 Pole St, Dundee

  • Father:

    James O’Brien, 20 Pole St, Dundee

  • Siblings:
  • Spouse:
  • Children:

More about James O'Brien

James has no known grave but is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial.

James O’Brien   2764   Black Watch

O’BRIEN___Killed in action, on the 9th May, Private James O’Brien, 4th Black Watch, late of Seaforth Highlanders, beloved son of Mrs O’Brien, 20 Pole Street, Dundee.

Dundee People’s Journal 29th May 1915

WOUNDED DUNDEE TERRITORIAL’S

PATHETIC ACCOUNT OF COMRADE’S DEATH.

Private John Keith, 4th Black Watch, writes home to his wife an account of the pathetic end of his comrades-in-arms during the great engagement of 9th inst.  The letter, which was written in the trenches on 11th inst., reads as follows :___”It was hell upon earth, and I had many narrow shaves.  I had my nose cut.  James O’Brien, Pole Street, and Joseph Smith, Flight’s Lane Lochee, were killed by my side, as they are also in Platoon No. 10.  We had five men and Mr Cox, our officer wounded.”

Dundee Courier 27th May 1915

Additional information and image kindly supplied by Michael Caldwell

Can you tell us more about James O'Brien'? Some additional facts, a small story handed down through the family or perhaps a picture or an heirloom you can share online. Contact our curator...

THANK YOU for your interest in helping the Great War Dundee project. Please complete the short form below and a curator will contact you in the next few days.

    I am writing to:

    [wos_roh_data]