Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Allen O'Brien was born 1875 in Bishop Auckland, County Durham, one of two known children, one boy and one girl, born to John O'Brien and Margaret Joyce who married December 1874 in Bishop Auckland. In 1901 at the age of 26 James was living as a boarder with Arthur Hutchinson and his family in Walkerfield, Durham, working as a pottery labourer.
James Allen O'Brien enlisted in Bishop Auckland and was assigned to the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 22444 and later the 9th Battalion, 52nd Brigade, 17th Northern Division. The battalion landed in France July 1915 participating in the Battle of Albert, July 1-13th 1916. In 1917 in the First Battle of the Scarpe April 9th - May 4th and the Second Battle of the Scarpe August 25-30th. Private James Allen O'Brien 22444 Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action September 13th 1917 and is interred in Hargicourt British Cemetery, Aisne, France, grave I. F. 18. He was 42 years old and unmarried.
His sister Margaret was his sole beneficiary and received all monies owed to him and a pension along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James O'Brien is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04, C107.08, C107.09 and C107.12
