Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Daniel Joseph Brosnahan, known as Dan, was the second son of John Hugh and Mary (née Foley) Brosnahan, Levels. He was born on 21 August 1892 at Kerrytown, Levels, South Canterbury and baptised in the Temuka Catholic Parish on 11 September 1892. John Hugh and Mary who had both emigrated from County Kerry, Ireland, married in 1883 at Temuka. They had six daughters and three sons, all but one reaching adulthood. (The youngest son Patrick died in childhood.) Dan and his siblings (and many other relatives) were educated at the Kerrytown Convent School. An exceedingly enjoyable entertainment was given in mid-January 1900 in St. Joseph’s school by the Kerrytown Dramatic and Musical Troupe. Master D. Brosnahan was recalled for his singing of “Off to Coolgardie”, responding with “Kitty of Coleraine”. Later in the programme he sang “Teaching McFadden to Waltz” expressively. The entertainment given in later April 190, under the auspices of the Kerrytown Musical and Dramatic Club, proved an unqualified success, as the object well deserved (in aid of the funds of the school conducted be the Sisters of St. Joseph). Master D. Brosnahan was encored for his singing of “ Put it down to me,” as was invariably the case when he appeared on the stage. At the grand annual concert and dramatic entertainment in aid of the school in November 1905, a picturesque exhibition of dumb-bell drill by a team of seven boys, dressed in naval costume, was gone through with great precision. The performers of this item were Masters T. Fitzgerald, J. Brosnahan, N. Fitzgerald, M. Brosnahan, Louis Brosnahan, G. Tozer and Dan Brosnahan.

The South Canterbury Hounds met at the Levels on 9 May 1907 at the invitation of Mr C. N. Orbell, who, ever ready to welcome sportsmen whether mounted or afoot, provided both hospitality and sport. One of the seventy-two mounted was D. Brosnahan on Jack. When the hunt was held at Sutton Farm the following month he was on Adair. The annual race meeting held under the auspices of the South Canterbury Hunt was held on 17 July 1913 at Geraldine. D. Brosnahan started in the Walk, Trot and Gallop (1½ miles) but was unplaced. It was a glorious hunting morning in early July 1914 when the meet was at Falvey’s Cross Roads on the Levels Plain. Theres was D. Brosnahan on Orlando. The South Canterbury hunt met at Kerrytown in early July 1915, D. Brosnahan out on Nuptial Rite. Was this huntsman Daniel? In mid-August 1907 Mr D. Brosnahan was one who sang songs when the spinsters of Arowhenua gave a very enjoyable return ball to the bachelors. Mrs Mary Brosnahan, mother of Dan and siblings, died on 17 November 1912, the children ranging in age from 27 down to just 7 years of age.

On 13 February 1913 at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court, there were twenty-two offenders under the Defence Act called, the charge being for failing to render personal service. D. Brosnahan pleaded guilty and stated that he had been shearing in the Albury district. He would have attended the drills had he been able to. The Magistrate said he ought to have given notice to that effect to the commanding officer. He would be given an opportunity of making up the last drills and would be given till 12th June to do so. The details of the Levels Red Cross Committee’s Festival in July 1915 made interesting reading and showed that patriotic generosity abounded in the Levels district. Among the buyers was D. Brosnahan. He paid £1 for the honour of holding for a few seconds the flag which was auctioned when the Point Amateur Theatrical Society journeyed to Waitohi in October 1915 to stage one of their popular benefit performances for the Sick and Wounded Soldiers’ Fund.

Daniel Joseph Brosnahan, farming, Levels was listed on the 1916 Reserve Rolls. He was medically examined at Timaru on 12 February 1916. He stood at 5 feet 9¼ inches, weighed 168 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35½-38 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes grey and his hair brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. He was free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health. He bore a 6-inches long scar on his right leg, the result of an accident. He was one of the local men who left Timaru with the Mounted Rifles in early March 1916, by the second express for the north. Daniel Joseph Brosnahan enlisted at Featherston on 29 March 1916, aged 23 years 6 months. He belonged to the 8th South Canterbury Mounted Rifles and had registered for compulsory military training at Timaru. A farm labourer for his father at Levels, single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – John Hugh Brosnahan, Levels, via Timaru.

Posted initially to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles (14th Reinforcements) on 31 March 1916, Private D. Brosnahan was transferred to the Reserve Squadron on 8 April 1916, then to the 16th Mounted Rifles on 7 May. A social was held at the Washdyke Hall on the evening of 27 July 1917 by residents of the Levels to farewell Trooper Dan Brosnahan. “The departing soldier was born in the district and was very favourably known and respected for his many manly and social qualities. His popularity was emphasised by the numbers who assembled to wish him God speed, the hall being barely sufficient to accommodate them.” The chairman of the Levels Soldiers Entertainment Committee wished the departing soldier every luck and assured him of a hearty welcome from his Levels friends on his return. Mr E. Cartwright presented Trooper Brosnahan with a wristlet watch, wishing him every luck and congratulating him on the step he had taken. Miss Lynch then attached the watch to the recipient’s wrist and expressed the wish that he would survive the watch by many years. After other speeches, Trooper Brosnahan suitably replied thanking the donors and speaking in high praise of the boys who had already gone to the front and done such noble work. Dancing interspersed with songs and recitations, etc., was kept up till the small hours. Trooper Dan Brosnahan, the departing guest, also contributed a song and had to respond to an encore. The Levels ladies provided excellent refreshments. Trooper Brosnahan and Private T. Breen left by express on the afternoon of 29 July for the Front. A large number of their Levels friends assembled at the station and gave the departing soldiers three hearty cheers as the train moved off.

Trooper D. J. Brosnahan embarked with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles of the 16th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Moeraki” on 10 August 1916. He then transhipped to the “Mooltan” at Sydney and disembarked at Suez, Egypt on 21 September 1916. On 23 October 1916 at Abbassia, Egypt, he was posted to the Strength of the 2nd New Zealand Camel Corps/16th (NZ) Company, Imperial Camel Corps. Trooper Brosnahan was with the Imperial Camel Corps (No. 2 New Zealand Company) when he was sent to hospital, sick, on 10 December 1916. He was admitted to No. 27 General Hospital at Abbassia, Egypt on 12 December, infectious with impetigo. Discharged to duty on 17 January 1917, he rejoined his Unit and was then transferred to the 16th Company (ICC) in the Field on 24 January 1917.

Brosnahan went to the Rest Camp at Port Said on 24 September 1917, rejoining his Battalion in the Field from there on 4 October. Having been appointed Lance Corporal on 1 December 1917, he went to the School of the Instruction at Ferry Post on 21 December, then rejoined from the Instructional School at Ferry Post on 13 January 1918. Dan Brosnahan was wounded on 30 March 1918 in Palestine, suffering a gunshot wound to his right foot. He was admitted to the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance the next day [31 March 1918], then transferred to the 66th Casualty Clearing Station on 3 April. Moved to the 76th Casualty Clearing Station on 4 April, he was then moved to the 45th Stationary Hospital at El Arish the same day, having suffered a gunshot wound to his right ankle. From there he was transferred to the 44th Stationary Hospital at Kantara on 7 April, then to the 27th General Hospital at Abbassia the next day [8 April 1918], before being admitted to the Aotea Convalescent Home at Heliopolis on 12 April. He was at the Aotea Convalescent Home (Alexandria) later in April, his progress satisfactory. As of 4 May 1918, he was improving. Still in the Aotea Convalescent Home in mid-June, he was to be boarded. He was, however, discharged from hospital to the New Zealand Base at Ismailia for duty on 19 June, and posted to the Training Regiment.

Because of the gunshot wounds to his right ankle and tarsus, he was boarded on 15 July 1918 for return to New Zealand. He was detached to the Rest Camp at Port Said on 29 July 1918. Then on 16 August 1918, sick, he was admitted to No. 24 Australian General Hospital (Port Said), suffering from influenza.

Lance-Corporal D. J. Brosnahan, Levels, 8th Company, Imperial Camel Corps, returned to New Zealand, invalided and no longer physically fit for war service, per the Hospital Ship “Wiltshire” (Draft 185), embarking at Suez on 29 August 1918 and arriving on 9 October. There was to be a grand concert and dance to welcome home Lance-Corporal D. J. Brosnahan and three others on 24 October 1918 in the Washdyke Hall. He was discharged on 6 February 1919, no longer physically fit for War Service (gunshot wounds to right ankle and tarsus). He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Daniel again took part in the hunt, riding John Reilly at Arowhenua in June 1919. It was on John Reilly that he finished third in the Hack Handicap at the South Canterbury Hunt Club’s steeplechase held at Washdyke in June 1920. He also returned to farming, taking up land at Cave. Daniel possibly played for the Mackenzie Sub-Union in a football match against a South Canterbury fifteen at Fairlie in August 1921. He was present at a meeting of the Cave Saleyards Company in early January 1922. Various details were discussed, but the principal business was to fix the date of the opening sale for the season. This was fixed for February 13. It was reported that the yards are now in first class order, and that the indications were that they would be liberally patronised by the farmers of the district. Was he elected a new member at the annual meeting of the Temuka Football Club in early April 1923? At the committee meeting held on 10 April, Mr D. Brosnahan donated a medal, and a hearty vote of thanks was passed to him.

Daniel Joseph Brosnahan married Elizabeth Agnes Mellor (known as Agnes) in December 1923 at Timaru. They had three daughters followed by three sons. Their daughters had some education at Cave, as perhaps did the boys, as well as Pleasant Point Public School and Pleasant Point Convent School. In December 1938, Mena and Aileen Brosnahan played a pianoforte duet at a concert given by children at Cave. In January 1938, Shona Brosnahan and a pal won the three-legged race at the Cave Women’s Institute annual picnic. In May 1945, young Ray and Paul Brosnahan gave items at the Cave Women’s Institute meeting, and Ray won some of the children’s competitions. In October 1945, the two boys contributed to the Fairlie Patriotic Appeal. Daniel Brosnahan was elected a new committee member at the annual Cave householders’ (schools’) meeting in May 1933. At the twelfth annual meeting of the Cave Miniature Rifle Club in March 1934, he was elected a vice-president, and again the years following. A very large and enthusiastic meeting was held at Cave in March 1935 when the Cave Football Club was reformed after a lapse of several years. During the meeting more than 20 players were elected as members. Mr D. Brosnahan was elected a vice-president and a committee member. Dan was elected to the same positions in 1936.

By a unanimous vote a well-attended meeting of Cave householders decided in May 1936 to consolidate the school with Pleasant Point. The motion put was “that this meeting of Cave householders agrees that the Cave School should be consolidated with the Pleasant Point District High School on condition that children are conveyed free of charge.” The seconder was Mr D. Brosnahan. For some time a number of parents had been sending their children to the Pleasant Point District High School, and the roll number at the Cave School was 28. A committee had not been elected at Cave at the recent statutory meeting, but those who attended decided that steps should be taken towards obtaining consolidation. The school once had a roll number large enough to employ two teachers, but for a number of years it had been a sole-teacher school. Come June 1936, about 30 were present at the Cave householders’ meeting, D. Brosnahan elected to the committee. At the third annual meeting of the Cave Cricket Club in October 1939, Mr D. Brosnahan was elected a vice-president. Mr and Mrs D. J. Brosnahan and family were involved in the social life of the wider Cave district. In June 1942, D. J. Brosnahan donated to the Fairlie Patriotic Appeal which had so far received a poor response. As of June 1943, Corporal Daniel J. Brosnahan had a supervisory role in connection with the Home Guard in the Fairlie district. In November 1945, Mr and Mrs D. J. Brosnahan entertained a number of friends and relatives in the local Cave Hall in honour of the coming-of-age of their eldest daughter Philomena (Mena).

Dan and Agnes lived at Cave until the early 1950s when Dan retired from farming and they acquired their home at 25 Theodocia Street, Timaru. Daniel Joseph Brosnahan died at Timaru Public Hospital on 18 May 1973, aged 80 years. After a Requiem Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Timaru, he was buried in the Timaru Cemetery, where a headstone remembers Daniel and Elizabeth, there being also a services plaque for D. J. Brosnahan. Members of the South Canterbury RSA assembled at his funeral to pay their respects to their comrade. His next of kin at death was his wife, Mrs E. A. Brosnahan, 25 Theodosia Street, Timaru. Elizabeth Agnes survived her husband, along with three daughters and three sons. Daniel had signed his Will just ten days before his death, appointing two of his sons who lived in Timaru as executors and trustees of his estate – Verdon Francis Brosnahan and Raymond John Brosnahan. He permitted his wife to have the use, occupation and enjoyment of his dwelling hose at 25 Theodosia Street, Timaru during her lifetime. After her death, the property would be sold, with the proceeds shared equally between his children. He specifically bequeathed his Anglia Ford motor car to his nephew John Keenan (grandson). His estate was bequeathed to his wife and, after her death, to his children. Elizabeth Agnes Brosnahan died just a few months later, on 6 October 1973, at Greymouth where her eldest daughter lived. Following a Requiem Mass at Timaru’s Sacred Heart Church, she was buried with Daniel. Paul George Brosnahan, the youngest son of Daniel and Agnes, died in 1984 in Auckland, aged 51 years, and was buried at Timaru with his parents. Paul’s wife Audrey was interred there in 2005.

Dan’s father, John Hugh Brosnahan, died at his Levels residence on 11 May 1922 and was buried at Temuka with his wife. Many relatives (cousins among them) served in World War One, so intertwined were the Kerrytown families – Timothy John Brosnahan was killed in action in 1916 in France, son of Hugh (“The Pub”) Brosnahan; Louis Brosnahan and Patrick Joseph Brosnahan, sons of Hugh (“The Pub”) Brosnahan; Hugh Hoare, son of Mary Brosnahan; James Francis Poff, Francis (Frank) Patrick Joseph Poff and Leo John Aloysius Poff, sons of Johannah Brosnahan; Michael Brosnan/Brosnahan and James Timothy Brosnahan, son of Timothy Michael (ThadyMick) 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 and Christopher Patrick Scannell, sons 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 – Hugh Patrick Brosnahan, son of Hugh Francis Brosnahan; Cecil Patrick McEvedy served in the Navy, son of Emma Brosnahan; Timothy John McGrath served in the Air Force, son of Nora Brosnahan; Beatrice Mary Brosnahan served in the Air Force, daughter of Louis Brosnahan; 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; in addition, Joseph Patrick Brosnahan, son of Joseph Patrick Brosnahan served in Malaya from 1948 to 1964.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [29 July 2013; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0018531) [27 August 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [28 August 2013]; Temuka Leader, 20 January 1900, 27 April 1901, 25 November 1905, 17 August 1907, 3 October 1918, Timaru Herald, 28 November 1905, 11 May 1907, 7 June 1907, 14 February 1913, 18 July 1913, 21 March 1914, 6 July 1914, 5 & 19 July 1915, 19 October 1915, 7 March 1916, 22 & 31 July 1916, 15 April 1918, 4 & 18 October 1918, 7 May 1919, 21 June 1919, 18 June 1920, 16 July 1921, 11 January 1922, 7 April 1923, 5 May 1933, 27 March 1934, 14 & 26 March 1935, 31 March 1936, 16 & 27 April 1936, 11 May 1936, 25 June 1936, 4 December 1937, 23 October 1939, 12 June 1942, 16 June 1943, 21 November 1945, Sun, 13 April 1918, Evening Post, 1 October 1918, Press, 8 October 1973 (Papers Past) [17 September 2013; 10 October 2013; 08 March 2014; 10 & 13 February 2016; 10 August 2020; 26 October 2022; 18 & 26 February 2026]; Timaru Herald, 21 May 1973 (Timaru District Library) [11 April 2014]; Baptism record (Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD - held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [21 February 2016]; SCRoll submission from John Keenan, 23 Oct 2014; Probate record (Archives NZ – Collections Record number TU217/1973) [19 February 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [18 February 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• BROSNAHAN Daniel Joseph - newspaper clippings (pdf, 101.3 KB updated 06-Apr-2026)
• Daniel Joseph BROSNAHAN, courtesy of John KEENAN (pdf, 407.4 KB updated 23-Oct-2014)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS