Patrick Brennan
2015
Patrick Brennan
Patrick Brennan
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Patrick Brennan, one of 8 children, was the youngest of 4 sons and 4 daughters. of whom only 4 survived, his parents Owen and Elizabeth Brennan were born in Ireland. They had migrated to England settling at Willington, County Durham by 1875, the birth place of their eldest son Thomas, before taking the decision to return to Ireland where they had another child, Mary, in 1877. They returned to County Durham two years later by which time Thomas was deceased and Elizabeth gave birth to Isabella at Ushaw Moor in 1879, unfortunately she too died later that same year. Owen in search of work moved several times and by 1881 the family was living at 26, Stanley Terrace, Crook and Billy Row, he was employed as a coal miner to support his wife and daughters Mary (4) and Julia (1) born in 1880. They had also taken in 4 boarders, Michael and Patrick Brennan, Owen’s younger brothers, James Welsh and Luke Cardess, all coal miners. Ten years later the family can be found at Jobs Hill, they had lost another baby, George, born 1883, however, they had a further 3 children Anastasia born 1885, James 1889 and 2-month old Patrick 1891. They transferred over the next ten years to 2, The Fold, Esh, Mary had left the family home as had Anastasia by 1911, Owen, had been joined at the colliery by James (22) and Patrick (20) employed as coal miner/hewers, they now occupied 4 rooms at 14, Dyke Street, Quebec, County Durham.
On the 2nd of September 1914 Patrick enlisted at Chester-le-Street. He was 23 years and five months old, 5 feet 4 and a half inches tall and weighed 120 lbs. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light coloured hair. He was assigned as Private 9514 Durham Light Infantry, posted to the 4th Battalion, a Territorial Force, which when war was declared consisted of only 458 men. The battalion became responsible for the Tyne Defences at Wallsend, later transferring to Killingworth and then Forest Hall before moving to Seaham Harbour where it remained for the duration of the war. August 1915 Private Brennan was posted to the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry of the Regular Army and departed with the British Expeditionary Force from Southampton to France, August 17th 1915, attached to the 18th Brigade, 6th Division. He joined his regiment on the Ypres salient in Belgium as part of the re-enforcements after the disastrous result of the Battle of Hooge, August 8th-9th 1915 where the 2nd Battalion had lost 50 officers and 1,500 men killed, wounded or missing.
Private 9514 Patrick Brennan Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, September 4th 1915, only 18 days after his arrival at the front which must have been a huge shock to his family. He was interred at Potijze Burial Ground, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, reference I. AI. 3. Patrick was 24 years of age and single.
His mother, residing at 6, Fold, Quebec, County Durham, received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. Although Patrick’s brother, James, was eligible to serve during WW1 no record has been found.
Details as regards the demise of Owen and Elizabeth Brennan, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Dorothy Hall has submitted the following:-
On Wednesday September 9th 2015 I visited St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church at Esh Laude, to retake photographs of the War Memorial for the web site. Beneath the Calvary was a new wreath with a dedication to Patrick Brennan, from his family on the centenary of his death, with a photograph of him in his army uniform.
Not Forgotten
Patrick Brennan is remembered at Esh Laude on E73.01and at Quebec on Q2.05
