Nurse Anna Maria OBrian
Medical worker | Voluntary Aid Detachment-335.5.1891
Biography
Anna Maria O’Brian was born on May 5th, 1891 in Belfast Ireland. Eldest daughter to Catherine Maria and Daniel O’Brian and sibling to Thomas, Patrick, Elijah, Michael, and Saoirse O’Brian. She along with the rest of her siblings were raised in a three story home on Wolseley Street.
Unlike her brother, Thomas, who had a dream of ships, music, and holding the world in his hands. Her dream was the arts, more specifically singing. And as early as 4 years old, she began singing little tunes around the house. Her mother Catherine Maria would sing operas from her youth and Anna would sometimes harmonize with her in a melodic marriage of long riffs and matching pitches. Even attracting their neighbors on occasion.
By 1905, when Saoirse was born, and Anna was 14, she would help her mother take care of the new girl in the family. It was during this time, that family would’ve fallen on hard times. As Daniel O’Brian would’ve passed a year prior, leaving the family in dire need of some money. However, Anna and Saoirse would be in France at the time. After being heard one afternoon, while out at a Christmas concert at the nearby primary school, would be personally invited to a famed opera house to begin singing lessons. Saoirse was brought after Catherine and Anna agreed that leaving her in Belfast to be left alone with a stranger was not best for her.
So for a remainder of years the two resided in Paris. Then in 1911, when the family planned to move to America. Anna and Catherine once more had a discussion of what to do with Saoirse now that she was walking and talking. Catherine insisted on taking Saoirse to the states now that they had an opportunity to start anew. And while Anna was hesitant at first, she ultimately agreed and wished them luck. For the next few years, Anna remained at the opera house becoming a household name by 1913.
It wasn’t without its issues of course. As in the winter of 1913, Anna would find herself amongst a macabre scandal that nearly ruined her. A gentle, yet quiet worker from behind the stage, would have a growing infatuation with her. And while she tried her best to see the humanity behind the man, his love turned possessive and deadly. Not all is known what happened, but it ended with a chandelier crashing at the opera and the man disappearing.
The story, while outlandish and enough for the newspapers to have a field day with. Would be quickly squashed away by the war breaking out the following summer. And with that, all of Anna’s prepping for her days as a famed Opera singer were shattered. Catherine, Thomas, and she would head off to war. Anna was placed with the Volunteer Aid Department in late 1914.
Her time learning many of the medical procedures and practices she would need to know for aiding the wounded soldiers was timely and exhausting. Thankfully, she had her mother’s skilled hands and determination. And quickly became well-respected and liked amongst her fellow sisters of the red cross.
By the following year in November, she was stationed with Thomas aboard H.M.H.S. Britannic. And while, she and Thomas were happy to be meeting Catherine in Mudros. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip wasn’t going to be as easy, as war never seemed to be.
Unlike her brother, Thomas, who had a dream of ships, music, and holding the world in his hands. Her dream was the arts, more specifically singing. And as early as 4 years old, she began singing little tunes around the house. Her mother Catherine Maria would sing operas from her youth and Anna would sometimes harmonize with her in a melodic marriage of long riffs and matching pitches. Even attracting their neighbors on occasion.
By 1905, when Saoirse was born, and Anna was 14, she would help her mother take care of the new girl in the family. It was during this time, that family would’ve fallen on hard times. As Daniel O’Brian would’ve passed a year prior, leaving the family in dire need of some money. However, Anna and Saoirse would be in France at the time. After being heard one afternoon, while out at a Christmas concert at the nearby primary school, would be personally invited to a famed opera house to begin singing lessons. Saoirse was brought after Catherine and Anna agreed that leaving her in Belfast to be left alone with a stranger was not best for her.
So for a remainder of years the two resided in Paris. Then in 1911, when the family planned to move to America. Anna and Catherine once more had a discussion of what to do with Saoirse now that she was walking and talking. Catherine insisted on taking Saoirse to the states now that they had an opportunity to start anew. And while Anna was hesitant at first, she ultimately agreed and wished them luck. For the next few years, Anna remained at the opera house becoming a household name by 1913.
It wasn’t without its issues of course. As in the winter of 1913, Anna would find herself amongst a macabre scandal that nearly ruined her. A gentle, yet quiet worker from behind the stage, would have a growing infatuation with her. And while she tried her best to see the humanity behind the man, his love turned possessive and deadly. Not all is known what happened, but it ended with a chandelier crashing at the opera and the man disappearing.
The story, while outlandish and enough for the newspapers to have a field day with. Would be quickly squashed away by the war breaking out the following summer. And with that, all of Anna’s prepping for her days as a famed Opera singer were shattered. Catherine, Thomas, and she would head off to war. Anna was placed with the Volunteer Aid Department in late 1914.
Her time learning many of the medical procedures and practices she would need to know for aiding the wounded soldiers was timely and exhausting. Thankfully, she had her mother’s skilled hands and determination. And quickly became well-respected and liked amongst her fellow sisters of the red cross.
By the following year in November, she was stationed with Thomas aboard H.M.H.S. Britannic. And while, she and Thomas were happy to be meeting Catherine in Mudros. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this trip wasn’t going to be as easy, as war never seemed to be.