Husband of Glorya; father of Angela, Garth, Shelley, Jeremy.

Joined Territorials at 16 years.

Was a Corporal when entered Narrow Neck Camp 1 July 1940. After three months he was promoted to W.O.2.

In March 1941 he travelled to Australia with the Advance party to train as N.C.O. for the 1st NZ Ind Company.

Promoted to Corporal , arriving back in August 1941 unit was disbanded and he returned to his original unit and took up his old rank of Warrant Officer Class 2; he then went immediately to Officers' Training Unit and was promoted to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant in October 1941.

He continued on in the Army until July 1943 when he left NZ for the Middle East still as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant and joined the 24th Infantry Battalion

He was awarded the Military Cross at Cassino

Wounded on 29 July 1944, arrived back in NZ August 1945

Discharged Grade 3 December 1945

Cenotaph record initially prepared with the serviceman in 1998

Lt W. R. O'Brien, MC; Ohaupo; born NZ 14 Feb 1922; motor mechanic; wounded 29 Jul 1944. (Source: Burdon, R.M. 24 Battalion. p.231.)

'In accordance with general strategy, 24 Battalion headquarters moved from north to south of Route 6 early on the night of 23 March, and later A and B Companies were relieved by a company of the 5th Buffs. D Company remained behind in Cassino for the time being. Reliefs were complicated and dangerous operations, only to be undertaken at night. In some cases our men and the enemy occupied adjoining houses, and nothing was easier than to lose one's way in the darkness amid the tumble of ruined buildings. Yet, although troop movements in and out of Cassino on its eastern side were sufficiently hazardous, it seemed possible that even greater danger and difficulty might attend the withdrawal of C Company, still isolated on Point 202.
O'Brien had made nightly attempts to get through with more rations, but this having proved impossible, Reynolds' men were threatened with a shortage of food. Attempts were made to drop supplies by parachute, but although some ammunition was obtained in this way, most of the foodstuffs fell too far away and too near enemy positions to be picked up. Two packages containing chocolate and ‘K’ rations were gathered in on 22 March, but otherwise no food reached C Company by parachute till the day before final withdrawal. For his conduct while commanding an anti-tank gun crew within the bomb line and leading ration parties to forward positions, this officer received the MC as an immediate award.' (Source: Burdon, R.M. 24 Battalion. p. 242.) AWMM