The medals of war hero James O'Brien who grew up in the Antwerp Arms
Bruce Castle News has received a very interesting letter from Anthony Taylor who very kindly shared his knowledge about the Antwerp Arms:
"I saw your site while I was researching the O'Brien family and the "Antwerp Arms".
Bruce Castle News has received a very interesting letter from Anthony Taylor who very kindly shared his knowledge about the Antwerp Arms:
"I saw your site while I was researching the O'Brien family and the "Antwerp Arms".
In the 1901 Census the pub was headed by Joseph O'Brien described as a "beer retailer" assisted by his manager, Albert Tibberts. Joseph was a widower but lived in the pub with his 4 children - Joseph Jnr (age 16); Martha (15); James (14) and Frances (12).
My interest - I have a set of World War One medals to Warrant Officer James O'Brien of the Royal Army Service Corps. By 1919 he was living in Wood Green but I have no doubt it is the same man who lived his teenage years in the "Antwerp Arms".
He had originally joined up as a volunteer in 1914 into what became the 60th (2nd London) Division which served from 1916 in Salonika and Egypt. The 60th fought in many key battles and campaigns in what we now call the Middle-East. During his service James contracted Malaria and was invalided out of the Army in 1920.
In addition to his WW1 British War Medal and Victory Medal, in 1919 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for his services in Egypt, (see the attached photo). To put this award in context - of the 25,000 MSMs awarded in WW1, only 103 MSMs were awarded to members of the Royal Army Service Corps for their service in Egypt.
Please raise a glass to James O'Brien - a genuine World War One hero from the "Antwerp Arms"
Anthony Taylor"
BCN
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