Alfred O'Brien (3298) Gallipoli 7th Manchesters

[John B]

Hello, I have just joined the forum, hoping to find out some information relating to my Grandfather and his brother who both served in the Manchester's in WW1.
My Grandfather's brother was Alfred O'Brien (3298), he was a Corporal in the 1/7 Battalion and died in Gallipoli on 18th Sept. 1915.
I was hoping to track down copies of his enlistment papers and service record, The same for my Grandfather Albert O'Brien (34076), he was a Corporal in the 2/5th Battalion and was taken prisoner by the Germans sometime in 1917, he was held at POW camp in Giessen, Germany until being repatriated at the end of the war. Can anyone point me in the right direction to uncover anymore info about them?
Thanks.
John B O'Brien

[mack]

alfred was killed when the turks exploded a mine under the trench he was in,he was in C.company,lived at middleton street,hulme
he was originally buried in geoghegans bluff cemetery,the service was read by father fred furlong the RC priest.he now lies in twelve tree copse cemetery.

mack

[John B]

Wow, Thanks... I'm intrigued to know where you got such detailed info from.
I saw a photo of a memorial that used to be on Burlington St., when I zoomed in it said O'Brien was a Private not a Corporal and I have viewed a copy of a book about the 7th online which has an appendix which states A. O'Brien, his No. 3298 and it also gives him as being a Private.
The CWGC lists him as a Corporal, as does his listing in the medal roles, and the book of remembrance in the regimental chapel in Manchester Cathedral.
Do you have any idea how the discrepancy in ranks may have come about?
Do you know where I might be able to get a copy of his service history?
Thanks.
John 

[mack]

alfred was buried as a private,not a corporal,its an error on the CWGC site.

mack

[John B]

Interesting! His medal role entry lists him as a Corporal too.

[themonsstar]

Hi John

Here are the medal roll pages for Alfred's 1915 Star & BWM&VM

[themonsstar]

Some bits from the WD of the 42nd Division.

Best of luck with your research

Roy

[John B]

Thank you very much, those pages are great. It would be nice sometime in the future to pay a visit, now I will know exactly where to go.

[John B]

Looks like I've got as much as I can on Alfred, but I would be grateful to know if there is any possibility that his service record might still be in existence somewhere.
I know a lot were destroyed by German bombing in WWII.
Thanks for any help anyone can give. 

[mack]

the six men who were listed as killed on 18-9-15.

3456 wilfred bright.[C.coy]454 stockport rd,longsight,aged 20
3138 william,james grange.[C.coy]9 deramore st,moss side,age 24
2653 edgar giesenberg.[C.coy]59 palatine rd,withington,aged 18
2457 robert driver.[C.coy]11 halliwell st west,cheetham hill,aged 23
3298 alfred o'brien[C.coy]middleton st,hulme.
1277 william chadwick[A.coy]18 grafton st,brooks bar,aged 18
all originally buried in geohegans bluff

six of the seven men listed as missing.

3091 charles watkins[C.coy]193 northenden rd,sale,age 31
1941 william bent.14 mona st,hulme,age 19
2681 thomas pain[C.coy]62 walnut st,hulme,age 19
3416 horatio,nelson harrison[C.coy]10 ethel st,moston,age 28
1282 john,norman manley.[C.coy]8 norfolk st,moss side,age 20
3018 richmond,morgan smith[C.coy]19 victoria ave,didsbury,age 24

mack

[John B]

Thanks for that Mack.