249317 Pte. William O'Brien British Army 7th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers from:Tipperary Town William O'Brien was born and raised in Tipperary Town and enlisted in May 1915 whilst the 49th Brigade were stationed at the town barracks. He was assigned to the 7th Btn. Royal Irish Fusiliers, a part of the 16th Irish Division.
After initial training they embarked for England and were stationed at Pirbright in Surrey for more training whilst waiting to be posted overseas. They were sent to the Ypres sector in early 1916 and were holding trenches at Hulluch where they and several other Irish battalions were gassed during Easter Week 1916.
William saw some of the worst fighting on the Somme in September that year at Combles, Guillemont and Ginchy. After heavy losses the 7th Battalion was amalgamated with the 8th to form the 7th/8th. William continued to serve with them throughout 1917 serving at Passchendaele and Cambrai until the Battalion was disbanded in early 1918 and he transferred to 1st Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers. He saw out the war with them eventually being discharged as medically unfit in June 1919.
He was given the Silver War Badge, British War Medal and Victory Medal. He was proud of his war service but it must have been difficult in the post war years as the local area was heavily involved in the War of Independence against Crown forces. All of William's sons went on to serve in either the Irish or British army including my grandfather and his youngest son Patrick was killed in action in Germany in April 1945.
William worked as a jarvey and died in Tipperary Town in the early 1950s and is buried in St Mary's Churchyard.
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