This Page is dedicated to all O'Brien's for special occasions
Congratulations to Ron & Ashley O'Brien on their Special Wedding Day. How lovely they look in their O'Brien family Tartan
O'Brien Clan Tartans
For The O'Brien Clan that would like to wear a proud Kilt and show off your O'Brien Heritage, there are various O'Brien kilts to select from some of which have been designed for O'Brien's by O'Briens in Australia
Family Military Hero
This section is dedicated to Private Thomas Christopher O'Brien
(20 Years of age)
1st Bn, Hamshire Regiment
The Hampshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot.[1][3] The regiment existed continuously for 111 years and served in the Second Boer War, World War I and World War II. In 1946, due to distinguished service in World War II, the regiment was retitled as the Royal Hampshire Regiment.
On 9 September 1992, after over 111 years of service, the Royal Hampshire Regiment was amalgamated with the Queen's Royal Regiment to form a new large regiment, the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires), which continues the traditions of the Royal Hampshires.
On 9 September 1992, after over 111 years of service, the Royal Hampshire Regiment was amalgamated with the Queen's Royal Regiment to form a new large regiment, the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires), which continues the traditions of the Royal Hampshires.
On the morning of 18 September, the Germans launched an attack from south of the Lower Rhine against 2nd Parachute Battalion in its positions at the north end of the bridge at Arnhem. Armoured cars and half-tracks from the reconnaissance battalion of 9th SS Panzer Division charged across the bridge but were stopped by a hail of gunfire, grenades and PIAT (Projector Infantry Anti-Tank) rounds.
This aerial photograph was taken later that morning by an RAF Spitfire. A tangle of burnt-out vehicles can be seen on the northern approach ramp between houses occupied by the British troops. Despite this initial success, Colonel Frost's men were in a perilous position. They had only limited water, rations and ammunition, and German reinforcements were now heading towards Arnhem with tanks and self-propelled guns. In the following two days German counterattacks would systematically reduce the British perimeter.
This aerial photograph was taken later that morning by an RAF Spitfire. A tangle of burnt-out vehicles can be seen on the northern approach ramp between houses occupied by the British troops. Despite this initial success, Colonel Frost's men were in a perilous position. They had only limited water, rations and ammunition, and German reinforcements were now heading towards Arnhem with tanks and self-propelled guns. In the following two days German counterattacks would systematically reduce the British perimeter.
A 6-pounder anti-tank gun in action against a German PzKpfw B2 (f) flamethrower tank, 20 September 1944.
On 20 September General Urquhart - now reunited with his men - ordered the remnants of 1st Airborne Division to form a defensive pocket around the village of Oosterbeek, west of Arnhem, with its base on the Lower Rhine. Here they fought a ferocious battle against Kampfgruppe 'von Tettau', 9th SS Panzer Division and other German units. This photograph shows a 6-pounder anti-tank gun of No. 26 Anti-Tank Platoon, 1st Border Regiment, in action against a German PzKpfw B2 (f) flamethrower tank. Moments later the enemy vehicle was destroyed. In Arnhem itself, Colonel Frost was badly wounded and his men had almost run out of ammunition and water. German tanks and heavy artillery were systematically blasting them out of the buildings they were defending. That evening, a truce allowed many of the British wounded to be evacuated by the Germans. For those still holding out, their only hope now was for XXX Corps to finally break through.
On 20 September General Urquhart - now reunited with his men - ordered the remnants of 1st Airborne Division to form a defensive pocket around the village of Oosterbeek, west of Arnhem, with its base on the Lower Rhine. Here they fought a ferocious battle against Kampfgruppe 'von Tettau', 9th SS Panzer Division and other German units. This photograph shows a 6-pounder anti-tank gun of No. 26 Anti-Tank Platoon, 1st Border Regiment, in action against a German PzKpfw B2 (f) flamethrower tank. Moments later the enemy vehicle was destroyed. In Arnhem itself, Colonel Frost was badly wounded and his men had almost run out of ammunition and water. German tanks and heavy artillery were systematically blasting them out of the buildings they were defending. That evening, a truce allowed many of the British wounded to be evacuated by the Germans. For those still holding out, their only hope now was for XXX Corps to finally break through.
British airborne troops move through a shell-damaged house in Oosterbeek, 23 September 1944.
In this posed photograph, British airborne troops move through a shell-damaged house in Oosterbeek on 23 September. Numerically superior German forces were gradually infiltrating the British perimeter, but were struggling to completely crush 1st Airborne. A truce the following day saw 1,200 British and Polish wounded taken into German captivity. 1st Airborne Division had about 1,800 exhausted men left. Relief would have to come now or not at all, but the last desperate attempts by units of XXX Corps to get across the river in strength came to naught. The evacuation of the survivors across the Lower Rhine began on the night of 25 September, with assistance from the 4th Dorsets of 43rd Division. The costly British defeat at Arnhem meant that Operation 'Market Garden' had been a failure, but the Allies had at least established a lodgement area from which to launch a future offensive into the German Rhineland.
In this posed photograph, British airborne troops move through a shell-damaged house in Oosterbeek on 23 September. Numerically superior German forces were gradually infiltrating the British perimeter, but were struggling to completely crush 1st Airborne. A truce the following day saw 1,200 British and Polish wounded taken into German captivity. 1st Airborne Division had about 1,800 exhausted men left. Relief would have to come now or not at all, but the last desperate attempts by units of XXX Corps to get across the river in strength came to naught. The evacuation of the survivors across the Lower Rhine began on the night of 25 September, with assistance from the 4th Dorsets of 43rd Division. The costly British defeat at Arnhem meant that Operation 'Market Garden' had been a failure, but the Allies had at least established a lodgement area from which to launch a future offensive into the German Rhineland.