Other Information:Mark was appointed to Sunderland Borough Police on 17th February 1908 as PC 40. On 2nd March 1908 he, along with 5 other constables, were disciplined after they were reported for being absent from their beat on 25th February and were found in Fenwick’s livery stables at Vine Street at 1.20 a.m. by Sergeant 4 M Walton. He was disciplined again, and fined, on 29th December 1913 when found by Inspector McKennan coming over the yard wall of the Three Tuns, Crowtree Road at 11.45 p.m. on 15th December. On 1st October 1914 he enlisted into the R.A.M.C. He was living at 5 Alfred Street, Sunderland at the time. He embarked at Southampton, on SS Manchester Engineer, on 20th February 1915, entering the war in France at Havre the following day. Two days later, on the 22nd, he was posted to serve with No 4 Stationary Hospital, joining them in the field. He was appointed acting Lance Corporal, with pay, on 21st November 1915. On 13th March 1916 he was severely reprimanded for drunkenness. He reverted back to the rank of private on 6th May 1917. On 4th November 1917 he was posted to serve with No 51 General Hospital, Etaples. From 16th July to 14th September 1918 he was again appointed acting lance corporal, this time without pay. He was posted to serve with No 26th General Hospital on 18th September 1918, but a few days later, on the 30, he returned to the UK, sailing on the hospital ship “Ville De Liege”. He was admitted into the Military Hospital, Endell Street, London from 1st to 28th October 1918 suffering from a fracture to the radius of his right arms. On 23rd December 1918 he was posted to “B” Company, Blackpool. He was then posted to Ripon on the 12th January 1919 for dispersal. He returned to police service the same month, on the 24th. On 2nd January 1925 he was disciplined again, for being drunk and asleep whilst on duty in Central Police Station at 12.40 a.m. on 1st January 1925. Then again on 6th April 1927, for discreditable conduct in that he made an obscene expression to a member of the public at 4.35 p.m. on 31st March at Bridge Street Corners. Both times he received a fine. He died in Sunderland. He was the son of James and Mary (nee Henderson) O’Brien, and the husband of Ellen Cassidy - married in 1905 at Sunderland. They had three children. [Information researched and kindly provided by John Grainger]
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