Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Richard O’Brien was born on 10 July 1870 in Ireland, the son of Michael and Catherine O’Brien. He may well have been in New Zealand by 1908, a builder at Fairlie. On 23 March 1912, at Timaru, there were 223 applicants in the ballot for the 16 farms and 10 grazing units of the Sherwood Downs Estate. Richard O’Brien (Fairlie) was successful in gaining Sections 9 and 9a Pastoral (Second-Class Land) of 1618 acres. From 1914 at least, Richard Joseph O’Brien was a farmer at Sherwood Downs. Mr Richard O’Brien, of Sherwood Downs, Fairlie, “who is very favourably known in the South”, and Miss Hanna Frances Harney (Johanna, Hannah), of Bellfield, Southbridge, “a popular young lady”, were married at St Joseph’s Church, Southbridge on 21 April 1914. The Rev Father Taylor, celebrant and chairman, proposed the toast to the bride and bridegroom, the bridegroom suitably responding. Mr and Mrs O’Brien intended to make their home at Sherwood Downs, Fairlie. Their son, James Harney O’Brien, was born on 16 November 1915, his birth registered at Fairlie.

A notice appeared in the Timaru Herald in April 1916 – “Messrs Guinness and LeCren will sell by public auction at their Timaru land salerooms on Saturday, the 29th April, on account of Mr Richard O'Brien, his first-class grazing run containing 1681 acres with good residence and buildings at Sherwood Downs, near Fairlie. The run is for genuine sale, and intending buyers can inspect with every confidence.” There were more details in the advertisement. The report on 1 May read – “The goodwill of 1681 acres, a grazing run, Sherwood Downs, on account of Mr R. O’Brien, was next offered. Bidding started at £2000 and rose by bids of £250 to £3000, and by bids of £100 to £3500, at which figure it was passed in.” A transfer of Sections 9 and 9a, Sherwood Downs, 1681 acres, was refused in early July 1916.

By May 1917, Richard O’Brien of Sherwood Downs was in financial difficulties with regard to his mortgages. He had sold most of his stock but had been unable to sell his run. Since O’Brien had enlisted and gone to Samoa, two brothers-in-law were carrying on the place for him, and his wife held power of attorney. Three months were granted to allow payment of the rent. Richard O’Brien, sheep farmer, Sherwood Downs, enlisted on 21 April 1917 at Timaru. Married with one dependant and Roman Catholic, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Hannah Frances O’Brien, Sherwood Downs, South Canterbury. Private R. O’Brien embarked on 30 May 1917 per the “Talune”, to serve with the Samoan Relief Reinforcements. On 4 June 1917 at Apia, Samoa, he was posted to the Infantry. He returned to New Zealand per the “Talune”, arriving on 3 February 1919, having spent one year and 252 days on overseas service. He was discharged on 11 June 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was awarded the British War Medal.

Richard and Johanna stayed on at Sherwood Downs until the mid-1920s when they moved to Oxford in North Canterbury where he took on hotel-keeping. Their son James was admitted to Sherwood Downs School from Southbridge in June 1922 and left in July 1925. The family moved into Christchurch in the mid-1930s, Richard returning later to his work as a carpenter. Richard Joseph O’Brien died at his Christchurch residence on 7 March 1954, aged 83 years (formerly of Fairlie and Oxford). He was survived by his wife Johanna and son Jim. Following a Requiem Mass at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Manchester Street, he was buried at Bromley Cemetery. Johanna Frances O’Brien died at Christchurch on 31 October 1960 and was buried with Richard at Bromley following a Requiem Mass at the same church. Their son James Harney O’Brien who served in World War Two and died in March 1978 was also buried at Bromley Cemetery, a services plaque marking his grave. Two of Johanna’s brothers served in World War One – Robert Matthew Harney died of wounds in France in 1917 and Daniel Joseph Harney was killed in action at the Somme in 1918.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [10 March 2025]; Ashburton Guardian, 23 March 1912, Temuka Leader, 26 March 1912, Ellesmere Guardian, 22 April 1914, NZ Tablet, 30 July 1914, Timaru Herald, 19 April 1916, 1 May 1916, 24 May 1917, Press, 8 July 1916, 8 & 10 March 1954, 1 & 2 November 1960, 28 March 1978 (Papers Past) [12 March 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.