John Francis O’Brien (SN 2418) born at Ballarat, was a 36 year old clerk when he enlisted in Warracknabeal on May 10th 1915. On August 10th he embarked aboard the Persic and in October he reached Gallipoli to serve with the 14th Infantry Battalion. After just a month, illness forced his evacuation to the Australian base at Mudros. In December 1915 he was hospitalised in Egypt suffering from a fractured leg, cause not recorded in his service record. He recovered and was moved to France in June 1916 but illness again forced his evacuation. He was then assessed as fit only for Home Service and was returned to Australia aboard the Runic. He disembarked at Melbourne on July 5th 1917 and was discharged ‘medically unfit’ on August 16th.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Thomas J. O'Brien.