Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Eight: Joiner M. O’Brien, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (M.8041, M. O’Brien. Car. Cr. R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (8041 M. O’Brien. Jr. 4 R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (M-8041 M. O’Brien, Jr, 1, H.M.S, Cumberland) nearly very fine or better (8) £200-£240

Michael O’Brien was born at Clonakilty, County Cork, on 6 November 1891, and joined the Navy on 2 August 1914, as Carpenter’s Crew. He joined the light cruiser Aurora almost immediately and served in her until 4 December 1917, when he joined the light cruiser Curlew and served in her until the end of May 1919. In October 1918 he was re-categorised as a Joiner 4th Class and over the course of the next three years had been advanced to Joiner 1st Class. He signed on ‘to complete for pension’ on 23 October 1926, and received his L.S. & G.C. medal on 25 October 1929, whilst serving in Cumberland which he had joined nearly two years earlier. He was duly pensioned on 1 August 1936, and the following day he rejoined as a Joiner 1st Class (Pensioner) and remained in this rate until released on 16 August 1945, aged 53. Before the war he served in Frobisher and Vindictive and was then ashore at Chatham and Woolwich before joining York in July 1939. He must have been in her when she was hit by an Italian explosive motor boat in March 1941 and beached in Suda Bay to avoid sinking, but was further damaged by air attacks in April, and abandoned and paid off on 22 May 1941. He was then in Egypt until early August 1941 before returning to the U.K. where he served out the war at various shore bases. He was finally released on 16 August 1945. Sold with a portrait photograph of the recipient in ‘square rig’, together with copied record of service. Note that the Second World War medals have been added to complete the group.