Poppy In memoriam Poppy

Private Herbert Brennan

 

 

 

Herbert Brennan was born on 18 May 1890 at Gilford, Banbridge, County Down, the second of two children of grocer John Brennan and his wife Elizabeth (nee Harland). By 1911 he was living in Cambrai Street, Shankill, Belfast, and working as a general clerk.

Brennan enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim between 11 and 30 December 1914 (No.1357 – later Corps of Hussars No.71349). He embarked for France with F Squadron on 17 November 1915.

It is likely that he returned to Ireland at some point, either sick or wounded, and later returned to France, where he was posted to E Squadron, by then part of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.

The 1st Regiment saw action as V Corps' cyclist regiment during the Advance to Victory offensive from August to November 1918. While attached to headquarters of the 33rd Division, Private Brennan fell ill. He was evacuated to hospital on 1 November but died of pneumonia two days later. He was buried in the Awoingt British Cemetery, Nord, France, grave II.C.13. His gravestone inscription reads:

H/71349 PRIVATE
H. BRENNAN
NORTH IRISH HORSE
3RD NOVEMBER 1918

 

Private Brennan left a widow, Mrs M. Brennan, whose post-war address was Prince of Wales, Prince Regent Lane, Custom House, London.

His name is included on the Gilford War Memorial, County Down (see image below).

 

 

Gilford War Memorial

 

Gilford War Memorial

 

Gravestone images Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Newspaper image from the Belfast Evening Telegraph kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster (www.greatwarbelfastclippings.com). Last two images sourced from the Irish War Memorials site.

 

This page last updated 20 March 2024.