Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 3297375

Reference: WO372/15

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

UPP: GBM/MCI/3300718

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 6181580

Name: SR Births/1883/Hutchesontown/644-11/2379

Reference: Scotland's People Website

Title: Birth Certificate

Description: Birth certificate for Francis O'Brien

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: To obtain date and place of birth.

Source information

ID: 6181609

Name: London: H.M.S.O., 1921

Reference: Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Title: Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-19: Part 65- The Gordon Highlanders.

Description: The publication Soldiers died in the Great War 1914-1919 is a major work of reference listing the names of 667,000 of soldiers who died during World War One. It was published in 80 parts, one for each regiment. The soldiers’ names are arranged alphabetically by battalions within regiments, and the information given for each soldier includes, regimental number, rank, full names, place of birth, place of enlistment if different to enlistment, date of death and theatre of war where death occurred.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: To identify which Gordons battalion Francis served in and to establish the date of death and theatre of war where his death occurred.

Source information

ID: 6181716

Name: National Archives Reference: WO363

Title: British Army Service Records 1914-1920

Description: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers' documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the 'burnt documents'. The surviving records detailed recors provide information on the soldier's age at attestation, date of death (if during service), and any pension claim history, if he survived. It may also be possible to explore images of the soldier's original medical records, which give details of any distinctive markings, like tattoos, and conditions, like trench foot.

Connected by: Raymond31754

URL: http://www.findmypast.co.uk/
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: To find details of Francis O'Brien's military service.

Source information

ID: 6182064

Name: The Glasgow Evening Times, 11th October 1915, page 3.

Reference: Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Title: The Evening Times Roll of Honour 1914-15

Description: Mrs. O’Brien, 13, Hallside Street, Glasgow, has received information that her husband, Private Francis O’Brien, 2nd Gordon Highlanders, has been missing, believed killed since June 18. Private O’Brien enlisted in November and was sent to France in April. Prior to enlisting Private O’Brien was employed by the corporation as a paviour. Mrs. O’Brien will thankfully receive any information regarding her husband. (Portrait included)

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: A search of local newspaper casualty lists and rolls of honour.

Source information

ID: 6182253

Name: London: John Murray, 1927, page193.

Reference: The Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Title: The Seventh Division, 1914-1918 by C.T. Atkinson.

Description: The history of the 7th Division, 1914-18.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: In June 1915 the 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders was serving as part of the 20th Brigade of the 7th Division. This published history was consulted to see if it could shed any light on the events of 18 June 1915.

Source information

ID: 6182300

Name: Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1958, page 46.

Reference: The Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Title: The life of a regiment: the history of the Gordon Highlanders, volume 4, 1914-1919 by Cyril Falls.

Description: This regimental history covers all the regular, territorial and service battalions, of the Gordon Highlanders from the outbreak of war in 1914 to the Armistice in November 1918.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: This published regimental history was consulted to see if it could shed any light on the events of 18 June 1915.

Source information

ID: 6182353

Title: Missing, Believed Killed.

Description: An extract from the Official casualty list as it appeared in The Times national newspaper on 31st July 1915. It lists some of the missing, believed killed from the 2nd Gordon Highlanders and includes the name of Private Francis O'Brien S/7370.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: The Times, London, Saturday, 31st July 1915, page 4.

Source information

ID: 6182389

Name: Daily Record and Mail, Wednesday, 4th August 1915.

Reference: The Mitchell Library Glasgow.

Title: Udston village hero. Promoted on the field and gets the DCM. Saves the remnant of the Gordons.

Description: A newspaper report recording the heroic actions of a Private Arthur McNulty who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the part he played during the 2nd Gordon's attack on the Rue d' Ouvert on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: A report which provides a detailed account of what happened to the 2nd Gordons on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Source information

ID: 6182445

Name: Daily Record and Mail, Wednesday, 4th August 1915.

Reference: The Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

Title: Udston Village Hero.

Description: A newspaper report recording the heroic actions of a Private Arthur McNulty who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the part he played during the 2nd Gordon's attack on the Rue d' Ouvert on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: A report which provides a detailed account of what happened to the 2nd Gordons on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Source information

ID: 6182448

Name: Daily Record and Mail, Wednesday, 4th August 1915.

Reference: The Mitchell Library, Glasgow.

Title: Udston Village Hero. Part 2.

Description: A newspaper report recording the heroic actions of a Private Arthur McNulty who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for the part he played during the 2nd Gordon's attack on the Rue d' Ouvert on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: A report which provides a detailed account of what happened to the 2nd Gordons on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Source information

ID: 6182476

Name: The Evening Times, Glasgow, Wednesday, June 7th 1916, page 5.

Reference: Mitchell Library, Glasgow

Title: The Evening Times Roll of Honour 1914-15

Description: Local newspaper Roll of Honour.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: A search of local newspaper casualty lists and rolls of honour.

Source information

ID: 6182499

Title: Le Touret Memorial to The Missing.

Description: Francis O'Brien is commemorated by name on the Le Touret Memorial to The Missing,

Connected by: Raymond31754

Source information

ID: 6250130

Title: Commonwealth War Graves Commission: casualty details for Francis O'Brien.

Description: Casualty Details for Private Francis O'Brien, S/7370, 2nd Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders.

Connected by: Raymond31754

URL: http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1560040/O'BRIEN,%20FRANCIS
IWM is not responsible for the content of external websites. Please note that some sources will require payment to view.

Additional: Name, regiment, service no.,date of death provide a correct match.

Source information

ID: 6632120

Title: O'Brien, F. Le Touret Memorial to The Missing.

Description: Francis O'Brien is commemorated by name on the Le Touret Memorial to The Missing, Pas- De-Calais, France. The nearest memorial to where he fell in battle.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: This photo was taken by Raymond O'Brien in August 2004.

Source information

ID: 6639019

Title: A present-day view of the battlefield.

Description: The view looking east towards the northern end of the Rue d’Ouvert at the junction of the 51st and 7th Division sectors. This was the scene of the 2nd Gordons attack on German strongpoint K6 on the evening of 17th/18th June 1915.

Connected by: Raymond31754

Additional: Photograph taken by Raymond O'Brien in August 2004.

Source information

ID: 7482758

Reference: CWGCCASUALIWM

Title: Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Casualty Records

Description: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) commemorate First World War servicemen and women and members of some civilian organisations who died before 31 August 1921 while in Commonwealth military service or of causes attributable to service.

Connected by: Imperial1

UPP: GBM/CWGCCASUALIWM/803036

Additional: This record has been automatically matched to the Life Story by IWM, using rules based on name, rank, number, regiment and service.

Credit: © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

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