Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Timothy John Brosnahan, known as John or Ted, was born on 24 May 1890 at Kerrytown, South Canterbury, the third son of Hugh and Julia (née Scannell) Brosnahan, later of Oxford. He was baptised in the Temuka Catholic Parish on 8 June 1890. 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. Ted was educated at St Joseph’s Convent School, Kerrytown (or Temuka). He was a prominent member of the Pleasant Point Football Club. Timothy John Brosnahan was a farm labourer at St Andrews in 1911 and 1914.

He had registered for compulsory military training at St Andrews and was medically examined at Pleasant Point on 11 September 1915. Standing at 5 feet 4 inches and weighing 175 pounds, with a chest measurement of 33½ -37 inches, he had a fair complexion, blue grey eyes and light brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases apart from very slight varicocele, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. Although his teeth were in good condition, they did require attention! 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. T. J. Brosnahan left for Trentham on 18 October, with South Canterbury’s quota for the Ninth Reinforcements. There he enlisted on 19 October, a farm labourer for Hugh Hoare, single and Roman Catholic. His address was Kerrytown, Levels, Timaru, and his nominated next-of-kin was his father – Hugh Brosnahan, 21 Spencer St, Addington, Christchurch (address of Hugh, junior).

Private T. J. Brosnahan embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the Ninth Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 8 January 1916 per the “Tahiti” and disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 8 February. After joining the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment at Moascar on 8 March, he embarked for France on 7 April. Timothy John Brosnahan’s war record could not be briefer. To paraphrase Julius Caesar – I came, I saw, I was gone. Private Timothy John Brosnahan - the dearly beloved son of Hugh Brosnahan, of Addington and late of Kerrytown, South Canterbury - was killed in action on 16 July 1916 in the field in France (Flanders), aged 26 years. He was buried in the Cité Bon Jean Cemetery at Armentieres, France. The casualty list issued at noon on 1 August 1916 advised his fate.

The Timaru Herald remembered him as a man of bright and cheerful disposition and was one of the most popular young fellows in the district. In the same issue, Mr H. Brosnahan and family posted a notice thanking all kind friends for letters, telegrams, and expressions of sympathy in their recent sad bereavement. His father was at Oxford when he was sent his medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal, and also the Scroll in 1921 and Plaque in 1922. An In Memoriam notice for Timothy John (Ted) Brosnahan was inserted in the New Zealand Tablet in July 1920 – “On his soul, sweet Jesus, have mercy.”

Timothy John is remembered on his parents’ headstone in the Temuka Cemetery. 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. His name is inscribed on the Timaru Memorial Wall, the Temuka War Memorial, the Pleasant Point War Memorial, and on the St Joseph’s Church Temuka Memorial. In September 1921, the Pleasant Point War Memorial was unveiled in an impressive ceremony. Sited in a commanding position, it is an imposing monument constructed largely of Coromandel granite, with the names – including those of T. J. Brosnahan (T. John) and T. J. Brosnahan (T. Joseph) - clearly engraved beneath the inscription – “Our Glorious Dead. Their Memory Liveth for Ever.” Wreaths were laid on the steps and the “The Last Post” sounded by the bugler.

The St Joseph’s Church, Temuka, Memorial, an “exceedingly beautiful” monument to the memory of those who had fallen in the war, was unveiled after a Memorial Service on 25 April 1922. During the service appropriate music was provided by the choir and an excellent address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy. The name of Thomas [sic] John Brosnahan was heard again on Anzac Day, 1927. A Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Joseph’s Church, Temuka. The celebrant preached a very stirring sermon based on the Book of Wisdom (Chapter III, Verses 2-5). He pointed out that the Gallipoli campaign and later “gigantic episodes” would remain for all time a wonderful symbol of the age-old courage of men. He reminded the lads present that the enormous sacrifices made by the soldiers of New Zealand and other parts of the Empire were helping them to have brighter and better lives, and that all should render thanks to God, who had delivered them out of the hands of the enemy. They had gathered to commemorate the landing at Gallipoli and also to set aside the day to show their deep and grateful acknowledgement of the services of the men who had fought and died for them on other fields of the great battle-front. “The light of immortality that flashed from the abandoned tomb of the risen Christ lingers on in every mound of Flanders mud and clay, the gullies of Gallipoli, the sands of Palestine and Egypt, on the quiet churchyards in English villages and on God’s acres in New Zealand.. . . . And to-day, before God’s altar, we remember them with the love we bore them and the pride we shall have in them,” he concluded. Before the Dead March was played by the organist, the names were read of those from the Temuka parish who had died “on the field of honour” – the first two being Timothy John Brosnahan and Timothy Joseph Brosnahan.

The name of Private T. J. Brosnahan had appeared in the Roll of Honour printed in the Temuka Leader (14 September 1918). On 10 August 1922 the Temuka Borough memorial was unveiled before a very large gathering in the domain, including Temuka Territorials and Cadets, Temuka and Geraldine returned soldiers, the Temuka Pipe Band, the Salvation Army Band, the children of the district schools, national and local dignitaries, and local folk. Opening proceedings, the Mayor said “We regret that this occasion has arisen, but having done so we must look back with pride at the actions of those who rose to the call of the Motherland, which was in peril. Many of those brave boys who left these shores did not return, and we have erected this memorial to their memory, . . . “Following hymns and scripture readings, His Excellency the Governor-General formally unveiled the monument and the local M.P. read out the names inscribed thereon. T. J. Brosnahan – Timothy John or Timothy Joseph?

Ted’s brothers, Louis and Patrick Joseph, also served in World War One. Private/Sapper P. J. Brosnahan also left with the Ninth Reinforcements. He was wounded in June 1916, a month before his brother’s death, but was reported to be getting on well in hospital at Birmingham, England. Three nephews and one niece are known to have served in World War Two – Hugh Patrick Brosnahan, son of Timothy’s oldest brother Hugh Francis; Cecil Patrick McEvedy served in the Navy, son of his sister Emma; his namesake, 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.

A photograph of Private T. J. Brosnahan, killed in action, was printed in the Sun of 21 August 1916. And a photograph of Private Timothy J. Brosnahan (Canterbury), killed, was printed in the Otago Witness of 30 August 1916.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [29 July 2013]; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0018548) [29 July 2013]; CWGC [29 July 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); Temuka through the years: an informal history (Temuka History Book Committee, 2009); Timaru Herald, 21 September 1891, 18 & 19 October 1915, 3 August 1916, 12 August 1916 [x 2], 7 October 1919, 26 April 1922, 20 February 1924, 8 February 1928, Mataura Ensign, 2 August 1916, Evening Star, 2 August 1916, Lyttelton Times, 4 August 1916, Sun, 21 August 1916 [x 2], Press, 2 & 22 August 1916, Otago Witness, 30 August 1916 [x 2], New Zealand Tablet, 7 September 1916, 15 July 1920, North Otago Times, 9 September 1916, Temuka Leader, 14 September 1918, 17 September 1921, 26 April 1922, 12 August 1922, 26 April 1927 (Papers Past) [17 September 2013; 14 October 2013; 08 February 2016; 19, 20 & 22 August 2016; 06 February 2018; 13 June 2019; 01, 02 & 03 February 2026]; Baptism record (Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD - held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [21 February 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [08 February 2016; 01 February 2026]; Temuka Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council)

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• BROSNAHAN Timothy John - newspaper clippings (pdf, 341.6 KB updated 06-Apr-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS