Brennan, Henry

489 Private Henry Brennan - 4th Motor Transport Company AIF

Henry Brennan was born in Ballarat Victoria in 1882 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.

Henry worked with horses and was employed as a Horse Driver. He then found employment for a few years with Fremantle Trams.

However Prior to the Great War he went over east and was working and living in King Street Sydney.

On the 15th February 1915 Henry enlisted into the AIF in Sydney. He was accepted as fit for service with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 10 inches tall;

Weight - 138lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Black.

After his successful enlistment Henry was sent to Liverpool Camp and was assigned to 'B' Company of the 17th Battalion AIF. This Battalion was part of the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division.

He trained with his new unit for the next few months while they waited for their embarkation orders to arrive. On the 12th May 1915 Henry and his unit boarded the HMAT Themistocles in Sydney Harbour and set sail for Egypt.

After arrival in Egypt it appears that Henry may have injured himself in his duties as he was discharged to light duties with the Garrison Headquarters. It appears that he didn't join the 17th Battalion when they went to Gallipoli in September 1915. It appears Henry remained attached to AIF Headquarters in Egypt until April 1916.

He was then transferred to the 5th Training Battalion and arrived in England in August 1916. It appears Henry remained with the 5th Training Battalion in England well into 1917. On the 27th August 1917 he was attached for duty with the Australian Army Service Corps and travelled over to France on the 11th October 1917. He was then taken on strength of the 4th Division Supply Column and remained with them through to 12th March 1918 when he was transferred to the 4th Motor Transport Company.

He remained with the 4th Motor Transport Company for the rest of the war and only left France on the 22nd April 1919. Henry then worked with this group in England and was then attached to the Australian base on the Salisbury Plains. Henry was on duty in England well into 1920.

On the 31st August 1920 Henry boarded a transport ship which took him back to Sydney, arriving there on the 24th October 1920. Henry was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd January 1921.

Henry Brennan died on the 4th January 1953.