Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James Deen Brosnan was born at Timaru on 3 April 1886, the third son of Timothy John and Catherine (née Deen) Brosnan, and baptised Roman Catholic at Timaru on 25 April 1886. Timothy and Catherine, who both hailed from County Kerry, Ireland, married in 1881 at Timaru. They had two daughters followed by five sons, all born in the Timaru district. Timothy and Catherine were residing at Adair in the 1890s, there when their youngest son (Thomas Francis) was born in October 1898 and Timothy active in the affairs of the local school. James was educated at the Adair and Claremont schools. At Adair School he received a Standard I Proficiency prize and a first-class attendance certificate in 1893. His sister Mary and his brothers John and Tim also featured in the prize list. The following year, when every child in the school received a present, James was awarded a prize for Standard II Proficiency. He continued his education at Timaru Boys’ High School, where he gained more than half marks in the 1900 scholarship examinations and qualified for an Education Board Scholarship. It may have been at the Boy’s High School that James first made his mark on the sports scene, when he finished second in the 100 yards under 14 at the annual athletic sports in October 1899. He finished second in the 250 yards (under 16) in 1901 and also competed in the high jump (open).

His name was among those notified from Dunedin on 23 January 1903 who had passed Matriculation and solicitor’s general knowledge. And in October 1903, the Gazette notified that he had been appointed a clerical cadet in the Department of Roads. So, as a very young man James had moved to Wellington. He passed five subjects in the senior civil service examinations held in January 1907. Also in 1907, he gained passes in Latin and Constitutional History at Victoria College. And in 1909 he passed the Civil Service senior examination. Mr Brosnan made his first purchase for the Crown in 1911, when he bought the site of the Awanui wireless station. James was involved not only in his studies; he participated also in sports and administration. At the seventh annual meeting of the Victoria College Football Club on 23 March 1909, Mr J. D. Brosnan was elected to the committee. At the Catholic Clubs sports held in late March, he finished third in the 880 yards handicap. He had gone to the front but fell when a few yards from the tape. The following month he was selected to represent Victoria College in athletics (880 yards) at the University Easter Tournament. He competed but was unplaced. In September 1909, J. D. Brosnan (Victoria College) took to the field in the forwards for the New Zealand University team which played a football match against Sydney University, Sydney having an easy win, although Brosnan did play well. Brosnan had also represented Victoria College in the NZ University team which visited Sydney in 1908, when he injured his wrist and had to retire at half-time. Mr J. D. Brosnan was elected deputy club captain at the annual meeting of the Victoria College Football Club in March 1910. Just days later he competed in the hammer throw at the Victoria College athletic sports, finishing in third place. It was tennis (men’s handicap singles) which drew J. D. Brosnan to the combined sports carnival of the Public Services on 2 December 1912. And at the inter-‘Varsity tournament in March 1913 he represented Victoria College in boxing (heavyweight). In August he was in the team for the annual football match between Victoria College and Canterbury College, when two opposing players were probably known to him -Robert Livngstone and Stephen Parr. The Victoria College Football Club had been founded in 1903, and J. D. Brosnan was one who earned an inter-provincial reputation. He represented Victoria College at the Universities Easter 1914 tournament in boxing (heavy). In February 1915, it was swimming which attracted Brosnan when he competed in a 50 yards handicap at the Thorndon Swimming Club heats.

James Deen Brosnan was drawn in a ballot and enlisted at Wellington on 8 September 1917, having been medically examined that day. Standing at 5 feet 11 inches, weighing 174 pounds, and with a chest measurement of 35½-40 inches, he had a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Having had only trivial illnesses, free from diseases, vaccinated and in good bodily and mental health, he was passed Fit A. He had hurt his right knee and left elbow at football. He had scars on the back of his neck and under his chin from an operation and was missing the tip of his left second from injury. Residing in Wellington where he was a clerk for the Public Works Department, single and Roman Catholic, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs C. Brosnan, Gleniti, Timaru. James had served in the Timaru High School Cadets until he left school.

Private J. D. Brosnan was posted to A Company, 39th Reinforcements on 6 March 1918. Six days later he was transferred as Trooper to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and allocated to the 41st Reinforcements Mounted Rifles. On 24 April 1918, the following temporary appointment was approved by the Camp Commandant at Featherston – Pte. J. D. Brosnan to be Temporary Corporal. On promotion, he was transferred to the 46th Reinforcements Mounted Rifles. At the beginning of May he was again promoted, this time to Corporal. He was granted leave with pay in August 1918, then reported back to Camp on 30 September. Tem. Cpl. Brosnan was granted leave without pay until further orders on Demobilization on 25 November 1918. Demobilized from Featherston Camp on 27 November 1918, Corporal J. D. Brosnan was issued with a Certificate of Leave in lieu of Discharge. It was not until 7 August 1919 that he was discharged.

Back at his studies for his LL.B., he secured passes in Roman Law and Procedure in October 1919. In January 1921, Mr James Deen Brosnan was promoted from the position of proclamation clerk in the Public Works Department to be land purchase officer, Wellington. James Deen Brosnan, Land Purchase Officer, Public Works Department, Wellington, and third son of Mr T. J. Brosnan, of Timaru, married Helvetia Barbara Dolph, of Greymouth at the Basilica, Wellington on 30 March 1921. Probably the only Brosnan family member present was Mrs D. Irving of Timaru – James’ sister Mary. After the ceremony and wedding breakfast, at which only members of the family and very intimate friends were present, the happy couple left by motor for the North on their honeymoon. Three daughters and one son were born to James and Helvetia, the youngest (a daughter) born on 30 October 1929. Mr J. D. Brosnan, Land Purchase Officer of the Public Works Department, was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court on 30 June 1922. In the annual University degree examinations in November 1925, he gained his Bachelor of Laws (in philosophy). He was capped at the Town Hall on 14 May 1926. On 1 March 1927, Mr James D. Brosnan, LL.B., solicitor in the Public Works Department, was admitted as a barrister. In June 1932, he claimed in the Greymouth Supreme Court for possession of land. He was to be involved in more possession of tenement cases in the Greymouth Court. The May-June 1932 case was back before the court in September 1934.

In 1937 he sought compensation from the Grey County council for land taken for road purposes. The case was, however, struck out after a settlement was reached. One of the defendants in the 1932 case appeared again in May 1937 - charged that, on March 5. at Arnold River, near Stillwater, he wilfully damaged a dwelling-house, the property of James Deen Brosnan, of the value of £300. As a sequel to an explosion which destroyed a six-roomed house at Stillwater on March 5 last, Maurice Moore, aged 65, a former occupant of the dwelling, was on 18 May 1937 committed for trial on a charge of causing wilful damage to a house, valued at £300, belonging to J. D. Brosnan, of Wellington. “James Deen Brosnan, employed by the Public Works Department at Wellington, said he was the owner of the farm situated at Stillwater, and the house. He last saw the house in January, 1937, when it was in fair condition. It was not new, but was a good house, and would be worth about £500. It was of no practical value after the explosion.” When the jury foreman stated that there was no prospect of an agreement, the jury was discharged and a new trial was granted. The second trial started the next day. The jury was still unable to reach an agreement, and the Crown was given leave to move for a third trial. At the end of July, the third jury returned with a verdict of guilty and a recommendation for mercy. Moore was sentenced to imprisonment for 12 months on a charge of committing mischief by blowing up a house valued at £500, the property of James Deen Brosnan.

J. D. Brosnan was in the team to represent the Public Works at the 23rd annual Public Service bowling tournament in February 1939. James and Helvetia remained in the Wellington area, James a public servant who retired from his position as Chief Land Purchase Officer with the Ministry of Works in 1948. James Deen Brosnan died at Wellington on 16 November 1950, following a short illness, aged 64 years, and was buried in Karori Cemetery, Wellington. He was survived by his widow Helvetia, his son Deen, and his three daughters, Vetia, Helen and Barbara, Helvetia Barbara Brosnan died on 19 October 1964 and her sister Mary Catherine Dolph in January 1964, both buried with James. James had signed his Will in 1940, appointing his dear wife Vetsy and dear son James Deen as trustees and executors. He bequeathed five hundred pounds to his wife, his gold watch and chain and books and college photographs to his son. The rest of his property was to go to his wife and after her death to his children equally. Helvetia Barbara (Vetsy) Brosnan and James Deen Brosnan (junior) in turn appointed the Public Trustee executor, Vetsy stating that she had no business knowledge or experience and desired to be relieved from all concern regarding the administration of the estate. As at 15 January 1951, James Deen Brosnan, medical practitioner, was in Greenwich near London, England. His reason for appointing the Public Trustee as executor was that he was not resident in New Zealand and could not give the time and attention necessary to the administration of the estate. “Mr. Brosnan, who was a barrister and solicitor, was a prominent athlete, and represented New Zealand University at rugby football in Australia. In 1919 he was selected as a Wellington rugby representative. In 1909 he represented Victoria College in the half-anile and became New Zealand University heavy-weight boxing champion.” [Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune. 18 November 1950.]

James’ brothers John Joseph Brosnan and Timothy Michael Brosnan both served in World War One. His own son and namesake, James Deen Brosnan (known as Deen), was a medical student when he was drawn in a World War Two ballot. When he and fellow students were appealed for in September 1942, their appeals were adjourned sine die but they were to serve in the Otago University Medical Corps. A sine die adjournment was granted again in July 1944. James’ next brother, Daniel Patrick Brosnan, a famer at Upper Waitohi, was listed on the 1916 Reserve Rolls. His name was drawn in the ballot in mid-April 1917 to fill vacancies in the 30th Reinforcements. When he appealed in January 1918, saying that he was the only one on his farm and worked entirely by himself; he had a brother at college in Wellington, he was allowed sine die. His youngest brother, Thomas Francis Brosnan, a solicitor, may have been drawn in a World War Two ballot. Johanna (Cecilia Johanna) Brosnan, the oldest of the family married Michael Joseph Fitzgerald, one of five Timaru brothers who enlisted although Michael saw no overseas service. On 7 September 1915 the residents of Claremont met to say good-bye to Mr Timothy J. Brosnan, who had sold his farm in the district and was leaving to reside on another farm which he owned at Adair. Mr Brosnan was a very old resident and there was a very large attendance. The first part of the evening was taken up with a quiet game of cards, etc. Mr Brosnan was presented with a handsome gold watch and chain, every resident present speaking in eulogistic terms of the qualities of their host and the esteem in which he was held in the district, and how sorry they all were to lose such a good neighbour. Then on 7 December 1917, the residents of Adair and surrounding districts assembled to bid farewell to one of their most respected residents in the person of Mr T. J. Brosnan, who has sold his farm and was going to reside in Timaru. The esteem in which Mr Brosnan was held in both the Claremont and Adair districts was spoken of. He had been a most respected resident in Adair ever since the settlement started, a period of over 37 years, and all were very sorry to think that after so many years he was about to leave them. Mr Brosnan was asked to accept a purse of sovereigns (well filled), as a small token of the respect in which he was held. The evening was brought to a close by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne”. Long-time residents of Claremont and Adair, Catherine Jane Brosnan died in August 1919 and Timothy John Brosnan in September 1921. They were buried at Timaru.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [27 March 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0018557) [27 March 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [26 August 2015; 08 February 2016]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [08 February 2016]; Karori Cemetery headstone transcriptions [08 February 2016]; Karori Cemetery headstone images & burial records (Wellington City Council) [16 March 2026]; Timaru Herald, 26 December 1893, 22 October 1898, 10 March 1900, 1 November 1901, 24 January 1903, 9 September 1915, 18 April 1917, 11 December 1917, 23 & 24 January 1918, South Canterbury Times, 22 December 1894, 21 October 1899, 15 January 1901, Evening Post, 16 October 1903, 28 October 1907, 13 February 1909, 3 April 1909, 10 March 1910, 27 November 1912, 19 March 1913, 30 March 1914, 5 February 1915, 2 May 1918, 22 October 1919, 26 April 1921, 30 June 1922, 16 April 1924, 17 April 1926, 7 June 1937, 27 January 1939, NZ Times, 23 February 1907, 6 April 1909, 24 June 1911, 28 January 1921, 1 July 1922, 15 May 1926, Dominion, 24 March 1909, 13 April 1909, 15 March 1910, 24 June 1911, 27 November 1912, 26 April 1918, 17 April 1926, 2 March 1927, 2 November 1929, Otago Daily Times, 6 September 1909, Star, 21 August 1913, Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1921, 10 September 1934, 1 March 1937, 10 & 18 May 1937, 2, 3 & 4 June 1937, 31 July 1937, Grey River Argus, 30 April 1921, 14 June 1932, 30 August 1934, 25 February 1937, Hokitika Guardian, 30 April 1921, Press, 19 May 1937, 3 June 1937, 3 August 1937, 18 November 1950, Hawke’s Bay herald-Tribune, 18 November 1950 (Papers Past) [28 February 2014; 18 July 2015; 08, 09, 10 & 16 February 2016; 04 May 2021; 16 March 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 April 2014; 13 March 2026]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections Record number 0233/51) [16 March 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• BROSNAN James Deen - newspaper clippings (pdf, 166.9 KB updated 06-Apr-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS