Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien (1914 - 1942)

Born 23 Jun 1914 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Husband of Violet Lily (Cook) O'Brien — married 26 Jul 1938 in Queensland, Australia

Descendants

Died 15 Dec 1942 at age 28 in Paget, Queensland, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Peter Kane [send private message]

Biography

Henry O'Brien was born in Queensland, Australia

Henry O'Brien has English ancestors.

Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien was born on 23 Jun 1914 in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. He was the son of John O'Brien and Mary Elizabeth (Wright) O'Brien. ^[1]

He married Violet Lily Cook on 26 Jul 1938 in Queensland, Australia. ^[2]

Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien died on 15 Dec 1942 in Mackay, Queensland in an industrial accident on the railways, leaving baby Cliff O'Brien. He was was buried in the Stanwell Cemetery, Stanwell, Queensland. After Jesse died Violet and Cliff lived at Kalapa with her mother Amy Cook. ^{[3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

Inquest

Paget Junction, Queensland, Australia

CORONERS COURT

Recent Fatal Accidents

The Coroner (Mr. C. B. Buxton) yesterday hold an Inquest Into the death of Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien, a young man employed in the fencing section of the Railway Department, who was Injured at Paget Junction on December 14 and died on the following day. Deceased was found lying near the railway track with both feet severed and injuries to his back and chest. Senior-sergeant O. Howie examined the witnesses, the District Superintendent of Railways (Mr. A. W. Nielsen) represented the Department, and Mr. R. Hlckson (of the ARU) was present on be half of the widow. Leslie Ernest Thring, night officer at Paget Junction, stated that on December 14 last he was on duty when the Townsville mail train from Brisbane reached the station at 11.37 p.m. As the train was approaching the station wit-ness went on to the platform to give the driver the staff. As the carriages were passing he saw a man standing on the landing of one of them. A moment later he saw the man fall off the landing just on the curve, which to a certain extent obstructed his view. Witness called out to Night-officer Weir that someone had fallen off the train. Weir and witness walked along the platform to the spot. They found deceased lying between the platform and the rails. Witness noticed that deceased had been badly torn about. Deceased did not speak to witness then, but told the ambulance bearer his name. Deceased was semi-conscious. So far as witness could see the death of deceased was accidental. Evidence also was given by Nlght-officer T. A. Weir, driver A. Skene, guard S. W. Hill, and Plain clothes Constable W. Smith, after which the inquest was adjourned to Rockhampton to take the evidence of deceased's wife. ^[4]

SECOND INQUEST

A second Inquest was held on Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien, who was fatally Injured at Paget Junction on December 15, 1943.

Violet Lilly O'Brien, Kalapa, widow of the late Jesse O'Brien, said she last saw her husband on December 14. He left home to go by train to Paget Junction, where he was employed by the Railway Department. He was in good health and spirits when he left. On December 15 she was Informed that her husband had met with a serious accident and that he was in the Mackay Hospital. She was later Informed that he died on the same date. She knew nothing about the accident. Her husband was a sober man and from what she had been told of the circumstances surrounding his death she was satisfied that be had met his death by accident, and that there were no suspicious circumstances.

The inquest was adjourned to Mackay. ^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth registration: Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien Birth date: 23/06/1914 Mother's name: Mary Elizabeth Wright Fisher Father/parent's name: John Queensland Birth Registration 1914/C/11908
2. ↑ Marriage registration: Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien Marriage date: 26/07/1938 Spouse's name: Violet Lily Cook Queensland Marriage Registration 1938/C/3482
3. ↑ FindAGrave: Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien; Born: 23 Jun 1914 Queensland, Australia; Died: 15 Dec 1942 Mackay, Queensland; Cemetery: Stanwell Cemetery, Stanwell, Queensland; Find A Grave: Memorial #201462432 accessed: 07 Sep 2022
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} CORONERS COURT (1943, February 11). Daily Mercury (Mackay, Qld. : 1906 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 13, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article170883425
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} INQUIRY INTO CROSSING FATALITY AT NERIMBERA (1943, March 3). Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld. : 1878 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved April 13, 2018, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56141094
6. ↑ Oral history, Gloria Kane
7. ↑ Death registration: Jesse Henry Thomas O'Brien Death date: 15/12/1942 Mother's name: Elizabeth Riley Father/parent's name: John Queensland Death Registration 1942/C/5023