Terry O'Brien (not a relative) was one of five children of Bryan and Fredericka O'Brien. He was born in Coonamble in 1894 while his older siblings were born in Walgett, Glebe, Manly and Dubbo.
Terry was a young man of 21 when he left Australia to fight for his country in 1915. In January 1916 he was sent to Egypt for training and then in March he went to France to fight. In August 1916 he wrote from the trenches in France to personally tell Eugene O'Brien and his family of the death of their son and brother Thomas O'Brien. (Eugene, Thomas and their other five siblings were all born and raised at Tallawang but had moved to Marrickville around 1914).
France 8.8.16
Dear Eugene,I have the sad duty as a mate of Tom’s to tell you of his death. It has hurt me very much and I’m sorry for you all.Poor Tom was killed, Eugene, about ?? yesterday 7.8.16. The sad part is he was killed right behind the trenches about four mile. He and a chap named Small it seems were in a trench when a shell landed and it covered them. They were practically killed instantaneously.Tom was buried when I heard of it as I was about 3 miles from him. It is impossible, as you can imagine to have a priest there but everything that was possible of being done was done. He was buried at a place called Tara Hill about 1 ½ miles from a place called Albert near the Somme River. A cross was placed over the grave and I have secured most of the things that Tom carried. Of course the military took most and are sending them home. I feel with you all Eugene in the loss of Tom. In him I recognized a chap of high moral standard and a fine soldier. He did his duty bravely and like many another fine fellow was cut down short. We never know when our turn is coming and ?? still here. In this great offensive I am sick to the heart of seeing dead & wounded.
I will say no more Eugene but trust you all bear bravely the loss of poor Tom “He was missed by all”.From a sincere friendTerry O’BrienI will keep all the little effects of Tom’s until I return or am cut down also.Terry
It transpires that Terry was not "cut down" - at least not in the literal sense - but his fate is no more enviable than Thomas'. I discovered the following in his online military record:
In 1917, Terry's brother, James, wrote a letter to the military asking for information.
Dear SirIt's some considerable time since any news of the above mentioned soldier has been received, and on inquiring at the Office of the Red Cross here in Sydney, I was informed that he was killed in August of this year, but I have received no official notification of this death. He left Australia in 1915 and appointed me, James Joseph O'Brien of "Woodlands", Bridge Road, Glebe, as his next of kin. He was ill in the latter part of 1916 and I was notified by the Military. He was still on the sick list in England in July 1917 when I last heard of him. He said that he no longer belonged to the 7th Co but was being put in a new Co of Engineers, in the 6th Division. I think if you could give me some information & treat this matter as urgent I would be very much obliged, as the awful suspense is killing our poor mother. Possibly you could telegraph me any information you have and charge me with the cost of the telegram. Yours faithfully,J J O'Brien
A telegram reply three days later (on 29 November) stated:
NO REPORT BROTHER KILLED. FORWARD DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE. WILL INSTITUTE CABLED INQUIRIES IF WARRANTED.
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Terry had been slightly wounded in his right leg in July 1916 but continued fighting. His medical records in 1917 see him in and out of hospital, suffering in February from "trench feet" and thereafter from "melancholia".
My attempt at transcribing these documents appears below (with omissions):
10-10-17 – He is dull and depressed – -------------- slow, speech confused – tongue --------------15.10.17 – Melancholia - Depressed and apprehensive on admission. Improved rapidly and made good recovery.16-12-17 – Improvement continues
16-2-18 – Admitted--------------------
18-2-18 – Given 2 weeks leave.
States that he is feeling very well though a little nervous.
24-3-18 – Still improving. Has leave as usual and gets about well8-5-18 – Has been AWL for 8 days. Seems quite well and states that he is so and wishes for his discharge. This is recommended.
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Accounts of Terry's declining mental health in 1917 appear below (with transcriptions).
I hereby certify that on the second day of October, 1917, I Errol Solmon Heyers of the Australian Army Medical Corps at No 2 Parkhouse, Salisbury, separately and apart from any other Medical Practitioner, examined Terence John O’Brien, Driver in 7th Field Company Australian Engineers & that the said Terence John O’Brien is of unsound mind.
Facts indicating insanity observed by myself:
O’Brien is strange in manner. He is melancholy & depressed. At times it is difficult to get him to answer questions. His memory for present events is bad. He does not know the hour of the day or the day of the week.
Facts indicating insanity observed by others:
3990 Pte W S Taylor 20th Battalion Australian Infantry states that he found O’Brien on the night of the first day of October 1917 under a hut in No 3 Camp Parkhouse down on his hands and knees eating grass.
E S Meyers Capt AMC AIF 2.10.1917
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Parkhouse Camp
I certify that I, Isaac M Barrons Captain AAMC & RMO of Parkhouse Camp No 2 saw a man T J O’Brien, who was brought to this camp in the evening of the 1st October, 1917 about 10.30pm.
Facts indicating insanity observed by myself
The man was first seen by me in the examination room fully dressed and his hat on., in the evening of 1st October. He was sitting down, very quiet & scarcely spoke a word. His facial expression was listless, his beard had not been shaved for some days, his boots dirty on the bed,. His appearance of not having taken care of himself for some days.
On examination in bed no different --- was made out, when
someone appeared at the door his facial expression became more alert. He said
few words, something about fighting (meaning the enemy) & an expression
something like “I’ll be alright”. He was very depressed. He took his
nourishment & some medicine well.
Next day, 2nd Oct, I again saw him. He was still
melancholic & said little & was depressed. He made no attempt to resist
anybody. His beard appeared to have been singed. He appeared to me to be
constantly? melancholic.
Facts indicating insanity observed by others:
Private G J Smith, ward orderly on the 2nd October saw him & says he had a wayward look when seen at 7:30 am. He stared when anyone came to the door. He found grass in his coat pocket. The same morning, clothes were dirty and dusty, socks were very dirty. Patient washed his feet himself. He never spoke many words all day other than that he showed some photos and explained who they were. He mentioned he had been in Bournmouth Hospital from France. He was very hungry. He gave no trouble.
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I find him nervous, tremulous of hands and tongue - he is distracted in manner, sighs & wrings his hands, slow & confused in speech and is evidently very depressed and states he is afraid of something happening. States he has been drinking heavily.
I am of the opinion, taking into consideration his previous history, that he is suffering from melancholia which is likely to be of some duration. Under the influence of which he may have an impulse to suicide and that he ought to be under treatment in a mental institution. Being an expeditionary man it is recommended that he should be sent to the … Hospital – Napsbury.
George S Mile Lt Col RAMC…
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Medical Report on an Invalid
8. Disability in respect of which invaliding is Proposed.
Melancholia
9. Date of origin of disability.
Probably some months ago not more than 1 year.
10. Place of origin of disability.
France or England
11. Give concisely the essential facts of the history of the
disability, noting entries on the Medical History Sheet bearing on the case.
Dvr O’Brien was brought to No 2 Parkhouse at 10pm 1/10/17 by 3990 Pte W
G Taylor 8th Batt who states that he found O’Brien under a hut in No
3 Camp eating grass. Dvr ODonovan of 7th Field Corps has known him
since enlistment & was with him in France and states he was a good man at
his work. He saw him 2 months ago & states that he looked strange and was
strange in manner and had lost weight. O’Brien has been missing since 3rd
Sept 1916.
12. Give you opinion as to the causation of the disability, stating whether in your opinion it is:-
(a) attributable to or aggravated by service during the
present war…
Possibly aggravated by service during war.
(b) constitutional or hereditary and not aggravated by
service during the present war.
Possibly constitutional or hereditary
(c) attributable to or aggravated by want of proper care on
the man’s part, eg intemperance, misconduct etc
Probably aggravated by intemperance tho this may be only a symptom of
his melancholia
13. What is his present condition?
Patient is so strange in manner. Sad & depressed. Says he is worrying
because he has lost control over himself. Cannot bring himself to write home
and does not remember when he last heard from home – took no interest in the
last letters he received. Began to drink on this account. He knows he has been
away some time & that he slept out under huts. He does not remember the day
of the week – His memory for long past events is good. Sometimes has no control
over his bladder.
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8. Disability in respect of which invaliding is Proposed.
Melancholia
9. Date of origin of disability.
Not known
10. Place of origin of disability.
Not known
11. Give concisely the essential facts of the history of the
disability, noting entries on the Medical History Sheet bearing on the case.
States enlisted Aug 1915. Sent to Egypt, Jan 1916, to France in March
1916. Was slightly wounded in right leg in July 1916 but did not go sick. Sent
to England with trench foot in Jan 1917. Hospital at Bournemouth for about 6
weeks. Thence to convalescent camp at Dartford and thence to Salisbury. About
July became shaky and frightened and at end of September was sent to Tidworth
hospital for his mental condition and was transferred to Napsbury October 13
1917.
12. Give you opinion as to the causation of the disability,
stating whether in your opinion it is:-
(a) attributable to or aggravated by service during the
present war…
Aggravated by active service.
(b) constitutional or hereditary and not aggravated by
service during the present war.
Hereditary. Maternal parent said to be liable to recurrent attacks of
depression.
(c) attributable to or aggravated by want of proper care on
the man’s part, eg intemperance, misconduct etc
No evidence.
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On 10 October 1917, Terry O’Brien was admitted to Tidworth
Military Hospital with melancholia. On the 15th he was transferred
to Napsbury War Hospital and the following day discharged from hospital to the Hospital Ship “Kanowna” for return to
Australia.
On the 16th of February 1918 Terry disembarked in
Sydney and on the 24th of May he was discharged from the AIF at
Sydney. He was deemed medically unfit due to Disability-Melancholia.
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RETURNING SOLDIERS.The following men from the first and second military districts have been listed for return to Australia, and are actually en route from abroad. No-further information can be supplied, except the approximate time of arrival, which will be published shortly before disembarkation.BY STEAMER "W" NEW SOUTH WALES....Dvr. T. J. O'Brien.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tue 15 Jan 1918 Page 5
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Not much is known about Terry's life immediately after the war. Was he placed in hospital or did he return to live with family?
In 1921 he married Winifred Alice Clarke in St Peters. It appears that Terence had two children. For more details see separate article.
The Australian Census for 1930 shows Terence living with Winifred at 7 Tanner Avenue, Carlton (a suburb of Sydney). There do not seem to be any other records relating to Terence between his return to Australia after the war and his "reappearance" in the news in 1930.
The following collection of newspaper articles detail the circumstance of Terry becoming newsworthy:
Missing, since the 28th ultimo, from his home, 7 Tanners-avenue, Carlton, – TERENCE JOHN O'BRIEN, 36 years of age, 5 feet 11 inches or 6 feet high, medium build, sallow complexion, brown hair and eyes, prominent nose, clean shaved, scar on both shins; dressed in a brown suit, brown felt hat, and black boots; a native of New South Wales; has been suffering from nerve trouble. Information to his wife, Winifred O'Brien, at the above address.
Source: New South Wales Police Gazette and Weekly Record of Crime (Sydney : 1860 - 1930) Wed 7 May 1930 [Issue No.19] Page 373
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Over a month later, a man's body was found in bush near St Ives. The details described - "fair hair" and "blue eyes" - don't match Terry's military papers where he is described as having a dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. But newspapers do make mistakes, as will be seen below in their references to "Clarence".
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MAN'S BODY FOUND.The body of a man was found in scrubland at St. Ives, near the St. Ives showground, yesterday. Death appeared to have taken place about a month ago. Deceased was about 30 years of age and 5ft 9in in height. He had fair hair and complexion, blue eyes, five false teeth in the upper jaw, and a large scar on the left shin.
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Thu 8 May 1930 Page 12
BODY IN SCRUB. LANDS OFFICE CLERK. SYDNEY, Thursday.The body of a man, which was found in the scrub at St. Ives yesterday, has been identified as Clarence John O'Brien, 37, who was a clerk in the Land's Office, where he had been employed for many years. He left a widow and two children.
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MAN'S BODY FOUND IN SCRUB. SYDNEY, Wednesday.The body of a man aged about 30 years was found in the scrub, at St. Ives today. Death had apparently occurred about a month ago. There was nothing on the body to establish identity. The police are of the opinion that the man had struggled almost within sight of help when he collapsed. There was only 11d in his pocket.
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STARVED TO DEATH. MAN FOUND DEAD IN BUSH. SYDNEY. Wednesday.Although foul play is not suspected several remarkable features are connected with the discovery of the body of a man aged about 30 in the bush at St. Ives this afternoon. In spite of the fact that the man, who has not yet been identified, was found to have 11d in his pocket and was discovered a short distance from the St. Ives Show Ground, there is everything to indicate that he starved to death. A month's growth of beard, on his face lends color to the police theory that he had struggled through the bush and had then collapsed. Further inquiries will be conducted tomorrow with a view to establishing the unfortunate man's identity.
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BODY FOUND IN SCRUB. IDENTITY ESTABLISHED. Sydney, Thursday.The body of the man found dead in the scrub at St. Ives yesterday has been identified as that of Clarence John O'Brien (37), who was a clerk in the Lands Office, where he had been employed for many years. He left a widow and two children.
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BODY IDENTIFIED. SYDNEY Thursday.The body of the man found in the scrub at St. Ives was identified this morning as that of Clarence John O'Brien (37) who was a clerk in the Lands Office, where he had been employed for many years. Mr. O'Brien had not been in good health for some time. He lived at Carlton.
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MAN'S BODY IDENTIFIED.The body of a man which was discovered in scrublands near the St. Ives Showground on Wednesday was yesterday identified as that of Terence John O'Brien, 37, formerly of Tanner-avenue, Carlton._______________________
EFFECTS OF WAR. DEATH FROM EXPOSURE . CORONER'S APPEAL, SYDNEY, Friday.When recording the finding that Terence John O'Brien, 37, whose hatless and bootless body was found in the bush at St. Ives, had died from exposure and starvation, after having wandered away while suffering from loss of memory, the after effects of war service, the City Coroner said he hoped that the authorities would do the proper thing for the widow and children.
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TRAGEDY OF RETURNED MAN SYDNEY. Friday.
When recording his finding that Terence John O'Brien. 37, whose body was found in the bush at St. Ives, had died from exposure and starvation after having wandered away while suffering from a loss of memory after the effects of war service, the City Coroner said he sincerely hoped the authorities would do the proper thing for the widow and two children.
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FORMER SOLDIER'S DEATH. CORONER'S COMMENT. Sydney, Friday.In recording a finding that Terence John O'Brien (37), whose hatless and bootless body was found in the bush at St. Ives, had died from, exposure and starvation after having wandered away while suffering from loss of memory after the effects of war service, the city coroner said he sincerely hoped the authorities would do the proper thing for the widow and the two children._______________________
DEATH FROM EXPOSURE. AFTER WANDERING IN BUSH. SEQUEL TO LOSS OF MEMORY. SYDNEY, Friday.An inquest was held today concerning the death of Terence John O'Brien, aged 37 years, whose body was found in the bush at St. Ives. The Coroner returned a verdict that O'Brien died from exposure and starvation, after having wandered into the bush while suffering from loss of memory. The loss of memory was one of the after-effects of war service, and the Coroner said that he hoped that the authorities would do the proper thing for the widow and two children._______________________
DEATH FROM EXPOSURE. THE ST. IVES TRAGEDY SYDNEY Friday.Suffering from loss of memory Terence John O'Brien (37) a returned soldier, wandered away from his home at Carlton on March 27 and 10 days later his body was found in the bush at St. Ives. After taking evidence at the inquest today the City Coroner (Mr. May) returned a verdict that death was due to exposure and starvation. He added that the loss of memory was apparently due to the after effect of war service and he hoped that the authorities would provide assistance for the widow and two children.
Source: National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954) Sat 24 May 1930 Page 4
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On the 26th of March 1930, a Coronial Inquest determined that one Terence John O'Brien (born 1874) died near Pittwater Rd, St Ives of "exposure and starvation". He was 37.
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O'BRIEN - The Funeral of the late Mr TERENCE JOHN O BRIEN (late Lands Department) will leave Mrs P Kirby and Son Ltd. Private Mortuary Chapels 265 Elizabeth-street city THIS FRIDAY at 2 p.m. for the Catholic Cemetery Rookwood. Motor Funeral by road.Mrs. P. KIRBY and SON LTD. Motor Funeral Directors. Phone M2221-2. 265 Elizabeth Street, city
