The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with O.

Surnames Index


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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

D O connell .     British Army

D O connell served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




J O hare .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

J O hare served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




WJ O hare .     British Army

WJ O hare served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




WJ O reilly .     British Army Kings Dragoon Guards

WJ O reilly served with the Kings Dragoon Guards British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




KP O riordan .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

KP O riordan served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. Harry George John O'Bree .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 460 Sqdn. (d.28th May 1944)

My cousin Sgt Harry O`Bree was shot down over France 23/4/1943 where he is buried. Some nuns returned his shirt collar number to England. He could have been flying Halifaxs, as the M.of I. had previous made a film of G for George at his station. He was a bomb aimer. His name is in the RAF book in Lincoln Cathedral. CWGC come up blank, would like to know his Squad. No. and where in Lincolnshire he was stationed. He originally came from Portsmouth.

Update

According to CWGC, F/Sgt H.G.J. O'Bree died on 28/5/44 whilst with 460 Sqdn. Bomber Command Losses state that he was on Lancaster LM545, AR-J which crashed into the sea off the French coast, two bodies were recovered from the sea, one of which was your cousin. (Alan)




Christina O'Brien .     Red Cross   from Co. Durham

My mother, Christina O'Brien, was a nursing sister who volunteered during the Second World War. She was in charge of the "sick bay", as she called it, for Raleigh Hall, which was part of the munitions factory in Swynnerton. I remember her telling me of the frequent explosions in the factory and how the chemicals they used would turn the girls' hair colour yellow and brassy. Some people, unaware of this fact, would look at the girls with disdain, assuming their hair was an indication of low morals.

My mother also wrote, directed and acted in a pantomime at Raleigh Hall. Girls from the factory as well as nurses and general workers took part in it, making and painting scenery and acting all the parts. My mother was Widow Twankey. I have photographs of this production - it looked like great fun!




Seaman David O'Brien .     Naval Auxiliary Personnel HM Rescue Tug Frisky   from St John's, Newfoundland

(d.28th Sep 1942)

David's brother Michael was an Able Seaman in the Candian Merchant Navy fell on the 30th of March 1941 while on the SS Eastlea out of Newcastle upon Tyne. His brother Maurice was lost on HMS Forfar on the 2nd of December 1940.




Pte. David O'Brien .     British Army Royal Army Ordnance Corps   from Castlemartyr

(d.30th April 1946)

Private O'Brien was the Son of James and Kate O'Brien, of Castlemartyr.

He was 33 when he died and is buried in the Bohillane Catholic Graveyard, Bohillane, Co. Cork, Ireland.




Pte. Edward Joseph O'Brien .     British Army 4th Btn Welsh Regiment (d.8th Nov 1944)

My uncle Edward O'Brien or Eddie as he was known to my grandmother, was serving in Holland with the 4th Battalion Welsh Regiment, when he was killed on 8th November 1944. He was just 18 years of age. He was the son of her older brother, John O'Brien, and his wife Margaret. My gran said the loss of Eddie broke both of their hearts, and they never recovered from his loss. Eddie has no known grave, and his name is remembered on the walls of the Groesbeek Memorial.

Tragically my uncle John's older brother Dennis had been killed on the western front in WW1, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment. He was also only 18 years of age,and was killed in action on 22nd December 1914.




Able Seaman. F. O'Brien .     Royal Navy HMS Forfar

F. O'Brien is listed as a survivor of the crew of HMS Forfar.




Gnr. Frank O'Brien .     British Army 73rd Anti Tank Regiment, 196th Battery Royal Artillery   from Liverpool

My late Grandad Frank O'Brien from Liverpool, served in the 196th Battery 73rd Anti Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery. We have his Army Book and a Normandy Medal.




LAC George "Paddy" O'Brien .     Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve   from Liverpool

I am present writing an account of my Uncle George O'Brien who joined the RAFVR in July 1939 and after six months basic training at West Drayton was sent to Dunkirk. His brother, my uncle Frank, also signed up around the same time and they were both rescued off the beaches of Dunkirk coming back to England on a coal barge together.

Uncle Frank was eventually posted to Malta where he endured intense bombing on the RAF station while Uncle George was sent out to the Western Desert where he was tasked to rescue downed fighters from almost anywhere using a Thorneycroft mounted with a Coles crane. He eventually arrived in Tunis after The Big Push and later was posted to Sardinia before traveling up the length of Italy before being sent back to the UK to be demobbed in 1946. I have a good number of photographs of the journey although they are not now in the best of condition but he related to me many stories of his time.

If anyone remembers him or has any information of his time in the RAF or experince of Salvage Operations in the Western Desert I would be very pleased to hear from them.




F/Sgt. George John Patrick O'Brien .     Royal Australian Air Force 106 Squadron   from Petersham, NSW

(d.12th March 1945)

George O'Brien, was a Flight Sergeant in the Royal Australian Air Force. He was killed on the 12th March 1945 with 106 Squadron when Lancaster I RA503 ZN-B took off from Metheringham at 1330 to bomb Dortmund and was lost without trace. Aged 21 he was the son of Mr and Mrs H J O'Brien of Petersham, New South Wales, Australia.

Part of a force of 1108 aircraft, 748 Lancasters, 292 Halifaxes and 68 Mosquitoes, tasked to attack Dortmund. In what was to be the final raid on this target by Bomber Command. This force surpassed the previous days record for most aircraft dispatched, as well as eclipsing the previous single bomb tonnage record to be dropped on a single target. Bombing once again through heavy cloud and using sky marking some 4,851 tones of bombs and incendiaries feel on the center and southern districts of the city. Local reports are not available and it is possible that none were submitted. A British post war investigation team researching the bombing in Dortmund,recorded in volume three of the Official History that 'This final raid stopped production so effectively that it would have been many months before any substantial recovery could have occurred.

Two aircraft, were lost, 2 Lancasters. The aircraft was lost without trace. All of the crew have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.




Pte. Gerald O'Brien .     British Army 5th Btn. Dorsetshire Rgt. (d.10th July 1944)

Pte O'Brien was killed on 10th July 1944 near Caen at Hill 112. He is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial, Panel 15 Col. 3.




F/O. Jack Dennis O'Brien DFC..     Royal Australian Air Force 186 Squadron   from Brisbane, Qld, Australia

Jack O'Brien served with 186 Squadron and was awarded the DFC in 1945. My sister and I are trying to obtain more information on our father. He died as a civilian on 14th March 1955 and we have very little information. If anyone has any information or photos we would be most grateful.




Pte. James O'Brien .     British Army 3rd Mobile Laundry Unit Royal Army Ordnance Corps   from Liverpool

(d.4th Jan 1944)

My grandfather James O'Brien served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. He died age 37 and is buried in the Bone War Cemetery in Algeria. He left behind his wife Ellen Day and five young sons. His parents were Patrick O'Brien and Annie O'Brien from Liverpool. Any information would be greatly appreciated.




JC O'brien .     British Army Essex Regiment

JC O'brien served with the Essex Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Sgt. Joseph John O'Brien .     British Army Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve   from Hacketstown. Co. Carlow

(d.19th August 1943)

Wireless Op./Air Gunner Joseph O'Brien was the Son of Timothy and Mary K. O'Brien, of Hacketstown. Co. Carlow. He is buried in the Ballina (Templehollow) Graveyard, Co. Tipperay, Ireland.




Able Seaman Maurice Francis O'Brien .     Royal Navy HMS Forfar   from St John's Newfoundland

(d.2nd Dec 1940)

Maurice's brother, David also fell 28th Sept 1942 whilst serving on HM Rescue Tug Frisky. Their brother Michael was an Able Seaman in the Candian Merchant Navy fell on the 30th of March 1941 while on the SS Eastlea out of Newcastle upon Tyne.




Able Seaman. Michael O'Brien .     Canadian Merchant Navy SS. Eastlea   from St John's, Newfoundland

(d.30th Mar 1941)

Michael was an Able Seaman in the Candian Merchant Navy fell on the 30th of March 1941 while on the SS Eastlea out of Newcastle upon Tyne. His brother Maurice was lost on HMS Forfar on the 2nd of December 1940 and his brother David also fell 28th Sept 1942 whilst serving on HM Rescue Tug Frisky.




Cf.Stok. Michael O'Brien .     Royal Navy H.M.S. Brontosaurus   from Carrigrohane, Co.Cork

(d.2nd March 1946)

Chief Stoker Michael O'Brien was the son of Denis and Mary O'Brien (nee Keneally), of Carrigrohane. His brother Joseph also died on service.

He was 38 when he died and he is buried in the Athnowen (St. Mary) Church of Ireland Churchyard




Ch.Sto. Michael O'Brien .     Royal Navy HMS Brontosaurus   from Carrigrohane

(d.2nd March 1946)

Michael O'Brien was the son of Denis and Mary O'Brien (nee Keneally), of Carrigrohane. His brother Joseph also died on service. He was 38 when he died and is buried in the Athnowen (St. Mary) Church of Ireland, Co. Cork.




Gnr. Michael Francis O'Brien .     British Army 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery   from Liverpool

Michael O'Brien was my grandfather. He served with 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery.




L.Sto. Patrick O'Brien .     Royal Navy HMS Drake   from Ballymacoda, Co. Cork

(d.10th Jan 1944)

Leading Stoker Patrick O'Brien was the son of Stephen and Abina O'Brien, of Ballymacoda. He was 26 when he died and is buried in the Ballymacoda (The Hill) Old Graveyard in Co. Cork, Ireland.




Sgt. Robert "Baby Face" O'Brien .     British Army 2nd Btn. Middlesex Regiment   from 11 Barrington Street, Aberfan

Bob O'Brien was the Regimental Middleweight Boxing Champion of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment, he worked his way up the ranks and was promoted to Lieutenant in 1945. He enlisted at Mill Hill in November 1937. He was in France with the BEF from September 1939 to June 1940, evacuated from Dunkirk and later went to West Africa, India and Burma. After the war he was with the 3rd Battalion, Gold Coast Regiment.




Pte. Samuel N.M.I. O'Brien .     British Army Royal Army Medical Corps

I have been looking into my father's service with the RAMC in WW2. Samuel O'Brien was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He was 19 or 20 when he enlisted. I am waiting on his records from the army, but I was hoping that there may be some who remembered him. He passed away in 1995 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Whatever any one can add will be most welcome. Thanks to all the vets.




Cpl. Daniel O'Callaghan .     British Army Royal Army Medical Corps   from Liverpool

I would like to find any one who knew my Danny O'Callaghan, he served with the 15th Scottish Division.




Pte. William Reginald O'Callaghan .     British Army Royal Norfolk Regiment   from Dereham, Norfolk

William O'Callaghan was born in Middlesex in 1914 and moved to Dereham in Norfolk with his family in 1920 and joined the TA at the age of 16 before becoming a regular soldier with the Royal Norfolk Regiment and serving in Gibraltar from 1937-1938.

He was sent to France as a member of the British Expeditionary Force and was involved in fighting German SS troops at Le Paradis in May 1940 as part of the rearguard action that allowed over 300,000 troops to be evacuated from Dunkirk. He was one of almost 100 British soldiers who surrendered to the SS Totenkopf at Le Paradis on 27th May, 1940, and was subsequently marched to a barn where 97 men were massacred by the Totenkopf under the command of Fritz Knoechlein. Bill was one of only two survivors of the massacre and spent the remainder of the war moving between prisoner-of-war camps, ending up in Stalag XX1D.

After the war he returned to Norfolk where he was married in 1945. He had two children - Dennis, born in 1946, and Heather, born in 1953. Bill died in 1975. In 1956 a book entitled "The Vengeance of Private Pooley" by Norfolk historian Cyril Jolly was published, telling the story of the massacre and the part played by the two survivors in bringing Knoechlein to justice. The full story of the massacre at Le Paradis is told on the web site at leparadismassacre.com.




A O'connell .     British Army

A O'connell served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.





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