Feb 9, 1898

Born in County Westmeath, Ireland to Charles and Mary (nee Sweeney) O’Brien

Sep 24, 1909

Embarked the Empress of Britain in Liverpool, England with his mother and 4 siblings.

Sep 30, 1909

Disembarked in Quebec City, Quebec and noted as proceeding to Toronto, Ontario to join husband/father who had previously come to Canada

Aug 7, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Number 455227

Ø  Next of kin given as Mary O’Brien, 34 Stop, Yonge St. N., Willowdale, Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Previous occupation given as Teamster

o   Later noted as Moving Picture Operator

Ø  Previous military experience given as 3 years in the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Toronto, Ontario as a Bugler

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø  Posted to the 59^th Battalion’s 2^nd Reinforcing Draft

On attesting, he stated his birth year was 1894, not his actual birth year of 1898

The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

Nov 5, 1915

Admitted to the Barriefield Camp Hospital with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined).  He was then transferred to the Hotel Dieu Hospital in Kingston

Nov 11, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Nov 13, 1915

The 2nd Reinforcing Draft embarked the SS Missanabie in Montreal, Quebec

Nov 23, 1915

Disembarked in Plymouth, England and the draft proceeded to the West Sandling Camp where the men were absorbed into the 39th Reserve Battalion to continue training

Dec 1, 1915

Admitted to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe with a diagnosis that reads Injury to Right Arm when a box of ammunition fell from a shelf and struck him

He later claimed that he fell a distance of 15 feet when he was injured

Dec 11, 1915

Transferred to the VAD (Volunteer Aid Detachment), Yarrow Home Hospital in Broadstairs

Jan 31, 1916

Transferred to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe for discipline after getting drunk on Christmas Day

Feb 24, 1916

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital in Ramsgate

Mar 16, 1916

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom and the diagnosis noted as NYD (Not Yet Determined)

Mar 23, 1916

Transferred to the County of London War Hospital in Epsom and the diagnosis changed to read Synovitis of left knee

Apr 17, 1916

Patient is nervous with a marked tremor and 8 weeks of light duty is recommended

Apr 19, 1916

Discharged from hospital and attached to the D of S&T (Director of Supply and Transport) for 8 weeks of Base Duty

May 3, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling

May 4, 1916

Sentenced to 21 days Field Punishment No. 2 for wearing the ribbon of the Distinguished Conduct Medal for which he was not entitled to wear and making false statements to an NCO

May 25, 1916

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

May 26, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Jun 1, 1916

After leaving the base depot, Private O’Brien joined the 21^st Battalion resting in the Micmac Camp, near Dikkebus, Belgium

Jun 17, 1916

While in the front line near Verbrande Molen, Belgium, Private O’Brien received a slight shrapnel wound to his eyes and was evacuated to the No. 1 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station

Jun 19, 1916

Transferred to the No. 13 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, France and noted as having an abrasion to his left cornea

Jun 23, 1916

Discharged to Base Details in Boulogne

Jul 14, 1916

Forfeited 3 days pay for being absent

Jul 25, 1916

Arrested and placed in confinement to await Court Martial for falsely using a pay book

Aug 5, 1916

Tried by a Field General Court Martial on the charge of

 
An act to the prejudice of good order and Military discipline in that he, having obtained on June 28, 1916 a paybook he produced instead there of a paybook which he had officially reported lost for the purpose of obtaining cash payment of 50 Francs with intent to make it appear that he had not received the said payment.

After testimony was given, he was found Guilty and sentenced to 42 days Field Punishment No. 1 to be served at the No. 3 Large Rest Camp, Boulogne

Aug 12, 1916

Admitted to the No. 13 General Hospital in Boulogne with an accidentally sprained left ankle. 

Aug 21, 1916

Discharged from hospital and reported to the Base Details in Boulogne to resume his field punishment sentence

Aug 24, 1916

Transferred to the No. 3 General Base Depot to finish serving his sentence

Aug 27, 1916

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the Halifax Camp near Brandhoek, Belgium

Aug 31, 1916

After leaving the entrenching battalion, Private O’Brien rejoined the 21^st Battalion resting in Zouafques, France

Sep 1, 1916

Admitted to the No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance with a diagnosis that reads Chronic Synovitis in his right ankle from an old fracture.

Sep 2, 1916

Transferred to the No. 10 Stationary Hospital in St. Omer with a diagnosis that reads NYD (Not Yet Determined)

Sep 15, 1916

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Jan Breydel

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the County of London War Hospital in Epsom with a Ruptured Tendon of right foot.  On admission to hospital, he claimed to have been buried by a shell explosion, however there is no evidence of that happening.

Transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 4, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom and Laryngitis and Myalgia were added to the diagnosis

Oct 9, 1916

Charged with

Ø  Being absent from the hospital from 9:30 pm to 10:10 pm October 4, 1916

Ø  Disobedience of hospital orders by wearing Khaki

Ø  Disobeying an order by a superior officer

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 2

Oct 14, 1916

Transferred to the King George Hospital in London and an inflamed Bladder

Oct 20, 1916

Transferred to the County of London War Hospital in Epsom

Dec 13, 1916

Transferred to the Endell Street Military Hospital in London diagnosis reads Contused and Bruised Shoulder after claiming that he fell while working in the previous hospital.  X-Rays show no damage

Dec 14, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom Diagnosis reads Inflamed Throat

Dec 25, 1916

Declared to be Absent Without Leave

Dec 28, 1916

Reported back to the hospital from being absent and placed in confinement

Forfeited 4 days pay for his absence

Jan 1, 1917

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jan 8, 1917

Admitted to the Horton County of London War Hospital in Epsom diagnosis reads PUO

Jan 9, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Monks Horton and the diagnosis reads Enuresis

Jan 16, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital in Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jan 20, 1917

Transferred to the Moore Barracks Hospital in Shorncliffe and the diagnosis reads Incontinence of Urine.  He claims that he has had the problem since being buried by a shell explosion in France, but there is no evidence in his file that this ever happened

Feb 8, 1917

Transferred to the Monks Horton Convalescent Hospital

Mar 10, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 12, 1917

Embarked the Hospital Ship Letitia in Liverpool

Mar 23, 1917

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and proceeded to Toronto, Ontario where he was Taken On Strength Military District No. 2

Apr 4, 1917

Declared to be Absent Without Leave

May 15, 1917

Married to Ethel Cummings in Toronto, Ontario

Stated his religion as Church of England and his occupation as Bank Clerk and Former Soldier

Dec 14, 1917

Admitted to the Toronto Base Military Hospital with a diagnosis that reads Shell Shock

On admission he complained of Anorexia and sleeplessness

Dec 31, 1917

Granted leave until January 5, 1918

Medical Exam notes

Ø  Appears healthy and is easily handled it dealt with firmly

Ø  Takes advantage of any weakness on the part of anyone in authority

Ø  Has the same manner of a “spoiled boy”

Ø  He appears to have seizures, but only when there are no medical personnel present

Ø  His hysterical fits are completely under his own control

Ø  His apparent seizures are more violent when only his “friends” are around

Jan 29, 1918

Admitted to the Newmarket, Ontario Hospital for observation

Mar 16, 1918

Medical Exam in the Newmarket, Ontario Hospital

Ø  Patient suffers from Mental Deficiency probably caused by lack of education and training

Ø  There is no evidence of delusions

Ø  He is very illiterate

Ø  His insight and judgement is poor but normal for a boy of his limited education

Ø  Recommendation made that he be discharged from military service as Unfit

Apr 9, 1918

Discharged from the CEF in Toronto, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge No. 2 Fire Hall, Portland St., Toronto, Ontario

Following the end of the war, the British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 134 Sheridan Ave., Toronto, Ontario

Oct 4, 1919

Admitted to the St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto and a circumcision was performed

Oct 31, 1919

Transferred to the Davisville Hospital in Toronto with a diagnosis that reads Venereal Disease Gonorrhea with both sides of his groin very swollen

Claimed that he had a Gonorrhea infection about a year ago and he cured himself

Nov 1, 1919

Transferred to the Toronto Military Base Hospital and the diagnosis was changed to read VDS (Venereal Disease Syphilis)

Dec 9, 1919

Discharged from hospital to the SCR (Soldiers Civil Re-establishment) Department after being declared to be Absent Without Leave for 21 days

 Ethel died in Toronto, Ontario in 1934 and the following year, Charles remarried Frances Evelyn Gibbs in Toronto

He went on to become a Veterinary Doctor and was employed as the Chief Inspector for the Essex County Humane Society based in Windsor, Ontario

Feb 23, 1947

Charles O’Brien died at his home 187 Sheridan Ave., Toronto, Ontario of a Cerebral Hemorrhage and was buried in the Prospect Cemetery in Toronto