Brennan, Nicholas

3018 Sergeant Nicholas Brennan - 3rd Australian Light Railway Operating Company

Nicholas Brennan was born in Ballarat Victoria on the 7th November 1878 to Catherine and John Brennan.

The family later came to Western Australia and initially took up residence in the goldfields, before moving to Fremantle, They initially lived at Carnac Street Fremantle but prior to the Great War, the family were living at 12 Little Howard Street Fremantle.

Nicholas was working locally and in Kalgoorlie for the WA Government Railways.

Nicholas had seen previous service in the local Citizen's Military Forces so he did have some previous military experience when he enlisted into the AIF.

It was in Kalgoorlie that Nicholas enlisted on the 17th August 1915. He was passed as fit for service with the medical examiner recording Nicholas's physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 11 inches tall;

Weight - 146lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-36 inches;

Complexion - Medium;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Nicholas was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 7th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. He trained with this group in WA for the next several weeks.

On the 18th January 1916 Nicholas boarded the transport ship HMAT Medic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for Egypt. After arriving in Egypt he was sent to the 7th Training Battalion and on the 21st March he went with them to France.

Nicholas only joined the 28th Battalion in France on the 3rd May 1916. He came down ill in June and had a fw stays in hospital suffering from influenza, asthma and enteritis. 

Nicholas rejoined the 28th Battalion on the 14th August 1916 and served with them for the next several months. 

Because of his railway experience, in January 1917 Nicholas was transferred to the newly created Australian Railway Corps. He initially served with the 17th Anzac Light Railway Operating Company then later in 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd Australian Light Operating Railway Company.

Though the Railways were normally well behind the lines they did come under German shellfire and German planes would often target the railways with bombing. On the 19th October 1917 Nicholas was wounded in the hand and neck and was transferred to hospital in England.

Nicholas had the next few months in England and only returned to France in May 1918. He saw out the remainder of the war serving with his unit.

On the 3rd April 1919, Nicholas returned to England and after several weeks boarded a transport ship which brought him home to WA. Nicholas arrived in Fremantle on the 24th July 1919 and he was discharged from the IAF on the 22nd September 1919.

Nicholas resumed work with the WA Government Railways.

He died on the 7th January 1937