Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Patrick Joseph Brosnahan was born on 20 July 1884 at Kerrytown, the second son of Hugh and Julia (née Scannell) Brosnahan. He was baptised in the Temuka Catholic Parish. Hugh and Julia who both emigrated from County Kerry, Ireland, married in 1876 at Timaru. They had five or six sons and six or seven daughters, probably all born at Kerrytown and possibly all reaching adulthood. Julia died on 20 September 1898 at Kerrytown and was buried at Temuka. From 1905 until about 1914, Patrick was a farm labourer at home at Kerrytown. He then moved to Lyttelton and employment with the Railways, firstly as a surfaceman and later as a platelayer.

There he was at Lyttelton, a surfaceman with New Zealand Railways, when he registered for the Engineers at the Defence Office, attesting at Lyttelton on 15 June 1915. Residing at Lyttelton, single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Hugh Brosnahan, Kerrytown, South Canterbury. Hugh was later care of H. Brosnahan, 21 Spencer St, Addington, Christchurch (address of Hugh, junior). He was medically examined on 22 June [1915]. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch, weighing 172 pounds, and with a chest measurement of 34½-37 inches, he had a dark complexion dark, brown eyes and dark hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Two teeth required extracting and a partial lower plate was required. He was free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health.

On Friday evening, 15 October 1915, Messrs Ted Brosnahan and P. J. Brosnahan were tendered an enthusiastic send-off by the residents of Kerrytown. The Rev. Father Kerley, in asking them to accept a wristlet watch each, eulogised them for coming forward in defence of their country; he was proud of them as Kerrytown boys, and wished them every success and a safe return. The Rev. Ainsworth also spoke, and his remarks were supplemented by Messrs J. Breen, G. Crozier. S. Coughlan. T. Fitzgerald and L Brosnahan. Both volunteers suitably responded and were heartily cheered on sitting down. Supper was dispensed and a pleasant dance concluded the evening. Patrick Joseph Brosnahan enlisted again in October 1915 at Christchurch. “Original file has been missing for some time. Above particulars are taken from Military History Sheet.” P. J. Brosnahan (Engineers) was named among the men of the Christchurch quota of the 9th Reinforcements who were despatched from Christchurch to Trentham on the night of 20 October 1915. Before leaving for Lyttelton by a special train, the men were addressed by the Mayor who said that all greatly appreciated the way in which the men had responded to the call of Empire. “He had every confidence in the men, but he would remind them that they were going to no picnic. It would be by no means a pleasure trip. They were going to stern reality with the destiny of the Empire in their hands and they must see that they worthily upheld the honour and reputation of those who had gone before. To do that they must keep fit and well, both morally and physically. On behalf of the city he wished them God speed, success, and a speedy return.” Headed by the Citizens’ Defence Corps Band and the C.Y.O. Band, the troops marched to the railway station, via Cashel, High and Manchester Streets, being cheered by large crowds on route. He joined the Ninth Reinforcements.

Sapper P. J. Brosnahan embarked with the New Zealand Engineers of the 9th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt on 8 January 1916 per the “Maunganui”. He joined his Unit (Engineers) on 9 March 1916. He was reported wounded on 15 June 1916 in France and admitted to hospital. Two days later he was admitted to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station at Rouen. He was admitted to the First Southern General Hospital at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 23 June. When his brother Timothy was killed in action in July 1916, Patrick was in hospital in Birmingham, England where he was getting on well. The casualty list issued on 26 June recorded Sapper P. J. Brosnahan wounded, admitted to hospital. He had suffered a gunshot wound (flesh wound) to his right thigh on 15 June. He was transferred from the First Southern General Hospital to Walton on 19 July 1916. Then in August he arrived at Camp (Convalescent Camp at Hornchurch) from Walton. As at the beginning of November 1916, he was at the Convalescent Depot at Hornchurch. Having left Hornchurch on leave on 27 November 1916, Sapper Brosnahan was to report to Codford on expiry of leave and was taken on Strength on 12 December 1916. He was next taken on Strength at the New Zealand Engineers Depot at Boscombe on 9 February 1917. He was appointed cook at the New Zealand Engineers Depot at Christchurch on 27 June 1917. Relinquishing the appointment as cook at Boscombe on 26 February 1918, he then proceeded overseas to France on 6 March and rejoined his Unit from Base on 14 March. On 27 March 1918, however, Patrick J. Brosnahan was admitted to No. 4 Stationary Hospital in France, suffering from pyrexia (fever) of unknown origin. Four days later he was transferred to No. 7 Convalescent Depot, then transferred from there to the 10th Convalescent Depot on 3 April. He was discharged from the 10th Convalescent Depot to the New Zealand Infantry and General Base Depot at Etaples in France on 14 April, rejoining his Unit from there on 26 April.

On 12 December 1918, Patrick Brosnahan was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital at Hornchurch, suffering from influenza. A Medical Report concerning a proposal to invalid was prepared on 18 December 1918 at the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch. His disability was debility following influenza dating from 28 November in England. “While on leave from unit in France took ill with influenza & reported to H’dqrs London who sent him to N.Z. Convalescent Hospital on 12.12.18. Had been in bed for a fortnight in Ireland & treated by a civilian doctor. 12.12.18 Convalescent Hospital reports out of bed 3 days sore throat cough.” His disability was attributable to Active Service present war infection. Present condition – “P. [Patient] does not look well still has sore throat & cough short of breath on exertion from scattered …… at bones. Other ……. negative.” He had been wounded in July 1916 in the right thigh from a bullet but there was no disability. It was recommended that he be discharged as unfit for war service for 6 months and unfit for home service for 3 months. He should be assessed for a pension at 20% disablement.

Sapper P. J. Brosnahan returned home by the “Zealandic” (Draft 217) which was due at Wellington about 28 February 1919. The men who disembarked spoke well of the treatment they received on the voyage out, and especially of the hospitality extended to them on their way through the Panama Canal. A Medical Board was assembled at Christchurch (NZ) on 11 April 1919. The specific cause of Patrick’s condition was infection. It was aggravated by exertion and resulted in debility. He was by then much improved, but his capacity for employment wound be limited for some time. He was discharged on 9 May 1919, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service. For his service in Egypt and Western Europe he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Resuming his employment with the railways, he was posted to Selwyn.

Patrick married Edith McDonald in 1924, he and Edith living at Selwyn until their respective deaths. Patrick Joseph Brosnahan died on 23 December 1933, collapsing suddenly while he was on duty as a tablet porter at Selwyn. He was just 49 years old, suffering from war disability. His death was caused by myocarditis and chronic pulmonary tuberculosis. After a service at Spencer Street Catholic Church, Patrick was buried with Edith at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, a services plaque marking his grave as well as an inscription on Edith’s stone. His next-of-kin at death was his older brother Hugh. Edith had died on 13 August 1932, aged 48 years, and was buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch. On 12 August 1933, Patrick had inserted an In Memoriam notice in loving memory of his dear wife Edith. “The death of Mr P. Brosnahan occurred very suddenly on Saturday morning at Selwyn. Mr Brosnahan was in charge of the Selwyn Railway Station and had been very busy during the morning attending to trains passing through. Afterwards he was resting in the office when he felt unwell, and was proceeding to his house a short distance away when he collapsed and died immediately. As he had been attended by a doctor, an inquest was not necessary. The interment took place at Christchurch on Sunday afternoon. Mrs Brosnahan predeceased her husband by about eighteen months.” [Ellesmere Guardian, 29 December 1933.] The relatives acknowledged the many sympathetic expressions and floral tributes offered at his passing. Patrick had given three years and 203 days of war service. His illness in 1918 was clearly attributable to his active service in the current war. At his Medical Examination in June 1915, Patrick was recommended as “A very suitable man”. How sad to see a man who was well built succumb to the effects of illness attributable to his war service. The Public Trustee administered his estate. He bequeathed his estate to his wife Edith, and if she should predecease him, to his eldest sister Deborah Brosnahan. His property amounted to £355, made up of Post Office Savings Bank account, cash in possession, furniture, livestock, accrued wages, accrued pension, superannuation contributions and funeral allowance. Hugh Brosnahan, relict of Julia, died at Oxford on 19 February 1924 and was buried with Julia at Temuka after his funeral at St Joseph’s Church at Temuka. In 1924 Patrick had married Edith McDonald who predeceased him.

Patrick was a brother of Timothy John Brosnahan who was killed in action at the Somme on 16 July 1916, a month after Patrick was wounded, and of Louis Brosnahan who also served. Three nephews and one niece are known to have served in World War Two – Hugh Patrick Brosnahan, son of Louis’ oldest brother Hugh Francis; Cecil Patrick McEvedy served in the Navy, son of his sister Emma; Timothy John McGrath served in the Air Force, son of his sister Nora; and Beatrice Mary Brosnahan served in the Air Force, daughter of his brother Louis. In addition, Joseph Patrick Brosnahan, son of his youngest brother Joseph served in Malaya from 1948 to 1964. Many other relatives served in World War One, so intertwined were the Kerrytown families – Daniel Joseph Brosnahan, son of John Hugh Brosnahan; Hugh Hoare, son of Mary Brosnahan; James Francis Poff, son of Johannah Brosnahan; Francis (Frank) Patrick Joseph Poff, son of Johannah Brosnahan; Leo John Aloysius Poff, son of Johannah Brosnahan; Michael Brosnan/Brosnahan, son of Timothy Michael (Thady Mick) Brosnan; James Timothy Brosnahan, son of Timothy Michael (Thady Mick) Brosnahan; James Gregory Brosnahan, son of Timothy Brosnahan; Michael (Mick) Anthony Spring died of wounds in 1915 at Gallipoli, son of Margaret Brosnahan; Thomas Leonard, son of Johannah (Hannah) Brosnahan; Timothy Gregory Breen, son of Norah Brosnahan; Daniel Scannell, son of Mary Brosnahan; Christopher Patrick Scannell, son of Mary Brosnahan; Timothy Joseph Perry was killed in action in 1917 in Belgium, son of Catherine (Kate) Brosnahan; Timothy Joseph Brosnahan was killed in action in 1918 in France, son of Hugh Brosnahan. And in World War Two – Cecil Patrick Hoare, grandson of Mary Brosnahan; Fergus Patrick Brosnan, son of Timothy Michael (Thady Mick) Brosnan; Michael James Sullivan, son of Lucy Bridget Brosnan and grandson of Timothy Michael (Thady Mick) Brosnan; Eugene Augustus Breen, grandson of Norah Brosnahan; Hugh Brosnahan was killed in action in 1942 in North Africa, son of Hugh Brosnahan and brother of Timothy Joseph killed in action in 1918; Patrick Francis Brosnahan was killed in action in 1943 in North Africa, son of Hugh Brosnahan and brother of Timothy Joseph killed in action in 1918; Daniel Peter Brosnahan, son of Cornelius Brosnahan.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [29 July 2013]; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0018544) [16 April 2014]; Sydenham Cemetery burial records (Christchurch City Council) [15 April 2014]; Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records microfiche) [17 April 2014]; Sydenham Cemetery headstone images [2026]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [15 April 2014]; Lyttelton Times, 17 June 1915, 21 October 1915, Star, 17 June 1915, 26 June 1916, 19 February 1919, 15 August 1932, 23 December 1933 [x 3], Sun, 17 June 1915, 20 October 1915, 26 June 1916, 21 August 1916, 19 & 28 February 1919, Timaru Herald, 21 September 1898, 19 October 1915, 27 June 1916, 20 February 1924, Press, 20 October 1915, 27 June 1916, 22 August 1916, 20 February 1919, 12 August 1933, 26 & 30 December 1933, 6 & 20 January 1934, Evening Post, 26 June 1916, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 26 June 1917, Otago Daily Times, 25 August 1916, 26 September 1916, North Otago Times, 9 September 1916, Dominion, 20 February 1919, Ellesmere Guardian, 29 December 1933 (Papers Past) [08 & 13 February 2016; 01 January 2020; 05 April 2022; 01 & 03 February 2026]; Probate record (Archives NZ) [11 March 2017]; BZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) 02 April 2014; 03 February 2026]; Baptism record (Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD - held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [05 February 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS