Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Timothy Michael Brosnan, known as Tim, was born at Timaru on 4 January 1885, the second son of Timothy John Brosnan and Catherine née Deen, and baptized Roman Catholic at Timaru on 25 January 1885. 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. Timothy (junior) was educated at the Adair and Claremont schools near Timaru. At Adair School he received a prize for first in Standard II Proficiency and a prize for writing in 1893. His sister Mary and his brothers John and James also featured in the prize list. The following year, when every child in the school received a present, Tim was awarded a prize for Standard III Proficiency. In 1896 Tim’s prize was for Standard V writing.

It is not apparent when Timothy went to Australia. His full name does not appear on New Zealand electoral rolls. When his father signed his Will in December 1911, the only family members he named were his son Timothy Michael Brosnan (legacy of £50) and two sisters still in County Kerry, Ireland. On 21 January 1916 at Toowoomba, Queensland, Timothy Michael Brosnan swore - “I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from 31/12/16 until the end of the War, and a further period of four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed, or removed therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and cause His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law.” Thirty-one years old, a labourer, single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Timothy John Brosnan, Claremont, Timaru, New Zealand. His father Timothy was later care of J. Fitzgerald, Matilda St, Timaru, NZ. In 1918, the eldest sister of Timothy junior and first-born of the family, Johanna Cecilia Brosnan, married Michael Joseph Fitzgerald, one of five Timaru brothers who had enlisted for war service. He was medically examined at Toowoomba that same day. He was 5 feet 6½ inches tall, weighed 134 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34 inches. His complexion was medium, his eyes blue and his hair brown. He was free of any diseases and deformities. He could see the required distance with either eye. His heart and lungs were healthy. He had the free use of his joints and limbs. He was free of all diseases and defects which may have rendered him unfit for the duties of a soldier. He declared that he was not subject to fits of any description. Thus, he was fit for Active Service.

Posted initially to the 11th Depot Reinforcements, Private T. M. Brosnan was transferred to ‘A’ Company, 41st Service Battalion on 5 March 1916. He embarked with the 41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, departing from Sydney, New South Wales on 18 May 1916 per the “Demosthenes”, and disembarking at Plymouth, England on 20 July. He proceeded overseas to France on 24 November 1916. Just over seven weeks later, on 14 January 1917, he went to hospital, sick. Afflicted with mumps, he was admitted firstly to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance, then to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer the next day. He went to Base Details at Etaples on 4 February then rejoined his Battalion (41st Battalion) a few days later. After going to hospital sick again on 30 March, he was admitted to the 10th Australian Field Ambulance again the next day, afflicted with scabies, and to the Casualty Clearing Station on 4 April. He rejoined his Battalion on 11 April. Then on 28 June 1917, Private Brosnan was wounded in action – shot wounds to the face - and admitted to the 18th Casualty Clearing Station. He was able to rejoin his Battalion on 13 July, only to be wounded in action for a second time on 4 October 1917 and admitted to the 44th Casualty Clearing Station then to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers on 6 October. Having suffered a slight gunshot (shrapnel) wound to his head, he was invalided to England per the “Ville-de-Liege” on 12 October and admitted to the Berrington War Hospital at Shrewsbury. The next day he was admitted to Allington Park Auxiliary Hospital at Shrewsbury, Salop. He was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent on 7 November 1917. His scalp wound had healed by 9 November.

On 6 August 1917, Timothy’s brother - 35410 J. J. Brosnan, who had been put into the Isolation Camp at Ascot Vale, on his way to the Front - wrote to the Officer in Charge of Base Records on paper provided by the Methodist Soldiers’ Institute, Military Camp, Ascot Vale. “I have just heard from home that my brother with the A.I.F. has been wounded. I would be very much obliged if you would forward particulars. I do not know what Battalion he belonged to but think it would be the Light Horse. His number is 132 Melbourne, name Brosnan Timothy Michael, next of kin Father, T. Brosnan, Claremont, Timaru, N.Z. An early reply would greatly oblige.” The letter was received at Base Records the next day but there is no mention of a reply. On 28 October 1917, Mr T. J. Brosnan, Clermont [sic], Timaru, was informed that his son had been admitted to Shrewsbury Auxiliary Hospital, England on 13 October, having suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Granted furlough from 9 November to 23 November 1917, Timothy was then to report to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott. He had no disability as of 24 November. Going to No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Very on 5 December 1917, he was then attached to the 0verseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 10 December. He had refused dental treatment on 10 December 1917. Private T. M. Brosnan proceeded overseas to France again, on 27 December 1917, from Longbridge Deverill via Southampton. Marching in on 28 December, he marched out two days later and rejoined his Unit (41st Battalion) in the Field on 4 January 1918. Brosnan was still with his Unit as of 1 August 1918. It was on 5 September 1918 that Private Brosnan was admitted to the General Military Hospital at Boscombe (affiliated to Alex Hospital – Queen Alexandra Hospital - at Cosham, Hampshire), having suffered a shrapnel wound to his right shoulder on 1 September, the third occasion he had been wounded in action, and been admitted in succession to the 15th Australian Field Ambulance, No. 37 Casualty Clearing Station and the 9th General Hospital at Rouen before being invalided to the UK on 4 September per the “Marguerite”. He was healed by 10 September but complained of pain in his arm. He was granted furlough from 21 September 1918 to 7 October when he was to report to L’moor Camp. On that date he marched into No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth from Administration Headquarters in London, then into No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Very from No. 2 Command Depot on 30 October. He improved throughout October and by 21 October he had no disability. As of 7 November 1918, he was dentally fit and refused treatment. He marched out to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill.

A final Medical Board examination on 27 December 1918 recorded some Rheumatic pain, no disability, fit for General service. Private T. M Brosnan returned to Australia from England on 18 January 1919 per H.T. “Orsova”, invalided, arriving on 6 March. A Medical Report on an Invalid was compiled on 7 March – Gunshot wound right shoulder 1. 9. 18. Slight fracture of Skull 4. Oct. 17. Blown up by shell explosion June 1916. Slight rheumatism left hip. General condition now poor. A dental examination was carried out on 19 March, and dental treatment was to be completed. He was discharged on 13 April 1919 and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

On 21 October 1936, Messrs Raymond, Raymond & Tweedy, Barristers & Solicitors, Timaru had communicated with Base Records, Australian Imperial Forces, seeking the present whereabouts of ex No. 132 Private T. M. Brosnan, 41st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. It was understood that at one time his address was Charleville, Queensland. Mr Brosnan was entitled to a legacy in his late father’s estate. As of 9 November, Timothy’s whereabouts was not known at Base Records. The enquiry had been noted in the ex-soldier’s file and, should he (Brosnan) communicate with the office, the solicitors would be immediately notified. For some years in the late 1920s and through the 1930s, Timothy Michael Brosnan was a miner at Waverley, Queensland. He had been a labourer at Tanbar Station, Maranoa, Queensland in 1919. Timothy Michael Brosnan, son of Timothy John and Catherine Deen, died in Queensland, Australia on 28 February 1943, aged 58 years.

Timothy’s brother John Joseph Brosnan also served in World War One, and his brother James Deen Brosnan enlisted but saw no overseas service. James’s son, James Deen Brosnan (known as Deen), was a medical student when he was drawn in a World War Two ballot. Another of Timothy’s brothers, 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.

When the war broke out and “Europe was ablaze”, a call was made for volunteers for service and “Claremont did its full share”. One of the Claremont men who gave service, though not with the New Zealand Forces, was Private T. M. Brosnan.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [26 August 2015]; Attestation Paper for Australian Imperial Force (National Archives of Australia) [26 August 2015]; Australian Death Index (ancestry.com.au) [26 August 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [26 August 2015; 08 February 2016]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2014]; Timaru Herald, 26 December 1893, 22 October 1898, 10 March 1900, 8 September 1915, 18 April 1917, 11 December 1917, 23 & 24 January 1918, South Canterbury Times, 22 December 1894, 26 December 1896, 9 September 1915, Press, 5 November 1917, 7 October 1918, Dominion, 30 September 1918, Evening Post, 5 October 1918, Sun, 7 October 1918 (Papers Past) [28 February 201418 July 2015; 08, 09, 10 & 13 February 2016; 04 May 2021; March 2026]; Baptism record (Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD - held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [19 July 2015]; Australian Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [26 August 2015; 18 March 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

Related Documents

• BROSNAN Timothy Michael newspaper clippings (pdf, 364.1 KB updated 06-Apr-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS