The AIF Project

John BRENNAN

Regimental number839
Place of birthCork, Ireland
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationSailor
AddressGPO, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Height5' 10.25"
Weight178 lbs
Next of kinMiss M Brennan, Cherry Street, New York, USA
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date21 August 1914
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name5th Battalion, G Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/22/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Machine Gun Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 4 November 1918
Discharge date21 February 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Embarked, Australia, 21 October 1914; embarked, Alexandria, Egypt, to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli.

Admitted to Hospital (wounded right leg), Dardanells, 25 April 1915; admitted to 1st General Hospital, Heliopolis, Egypt, 30 April 1915; discharged to duty, 24 May 1915; embarked, Alexandria, for the Dardanells, rejoined Bn, Anzac, 17 June 1915; to be lance Corporal and take charge of Police Regiment, Lemnos, 12 September 1915; to be Corporal, 17 September 1915.

Admitted to Hospital (diarrhea), Mudros, 19 September 1915; to 3rd Australian Stationary Hospital, 19 September 1915; rejoined Bn, Lemnos, 24 September 1915; disembarked, Alexandria, Egypt, to Headquarters, Tel-el-Kebir, 9 January 1916; transferred from C Company to 2nd Headquarters and reverts to the ranks, Serapeum, 1 February 1916; transferred to Machine Gun Company, 25 February 1916; taken on strength of 2nd Machine Gun Company, 13 March 1916.

Embarked, Alexandria, to join the British Expeditionary Force, 25 March 1916; disembarked, Marseilles, France, 30 March 1916.

Found guilty, 23 April 1916, of (1) being absent from parade: awarded 3 days' Field Punishment No 2.

Found guilty, 19 June 1916, of (1) drunkenness; (2) resisting an escort: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No. 2.

Admitted to 2nd Field Ambulance (rheumatism), 6 November 1916; to 38th Casualty Clearing Station (constipation), 6 November 1916; to 3rd Ambulance Train, 6 November 1916; to 4th General Hospital, 7 November 1916; to 6th Convalescent Camp, Etaples, 5th Convalescent Depot, Cayeux, 15 November 1916; discharged to Base, 22 November 1916; marched into Machine Gun Base Depot, Camiers, 24 November 1916.

Found guilty, 13 December 1916, of (1) being drunk; (2) out of bound contrary to R.O.111 26 June 1916: (3) using threatening language to the Military Police: awarded 21 days' Field Punishment No. 1.

To detention, Camiers, 15 December 1916; from detention, 3 January 1917.

Field General Court Martial held at Camiers on 18 January 1917, charge: (1) absenting himself without leave in that he at the Machine Gun Base Depot Camiers, absented himself without leave from 5:45 am, 3 January 1917, until apprehended by the Military Police at Dutreau at about 8:00 am, 8 January 1917: awarded 90 days' Field Punishment No. 1.

To detention, 23 January 1917; from detention, 18 April 1917; proceeded to join unit, 11 May 1917; rejoined unit, Field, 17 May 1917.

Admitted to 7th Convalescent Depot (venereal disease), Boulogne, 27 June 1917; to 51st General Hospital, Etaples, 28 June 1917; discharged to duty, 20 July 1917; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 24 days; marched into Machine Gun Base Depot, Camiers, 21 July 1917.

Admitted to 20th General Hospital (dermatitis), 19 August 1917; discharged to Base Details, 5 September 1917.

Admitted to 20th General Hospital (psoriasis), 24 September 1917, to 39th General Hospital, Havre, 3 October 1917; discharged to and marched into Machine Gun Base Depot, Camiers, 17 November 1917; marched into Australian General Base Depot, 6 December 1917; transferred to 2nd ADSC, Havre, 18 December 1917; taken on strength of sn3 ADSC, Field, 18 December 1917; on leave to Paris, 14 February 1918; rejoined unit from leave, 22 February 1918.

Found guilty, 2 March 1918, of (1) overstaying leave from, 21 February 1918, until, 22 February 1918: awarded 15 days' detention; forfeits 1 day's pay.

Taken on strength of 2nd ADMTC on transfer from 2nd ADSC, 12 March 1918; marched out to Australian General Base Depot, 8 May 1918; marched into Australian General Base Depot from unit, Havre, 10 May 1918; re-classified "A" and proceeded to rejoin 2nd Machine Gun Corps, 28 May 1918; taken on strength of 1st Machine Gun Brigade from 2nd AMTC, 28 May 1918; granted leave to the United Kingdom, 23 July 1918; rejoined Bn, 16 September 1918; to England for return to Australia, 13 October 1918.

Commenced return to Australia from Southampton on board HT 'Durham', 23 October 1918; disembarked, Melbourne, 23 February 1918; discharged, Melbourne, 21 February 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BRENNAN John

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