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Shoeing Smith David Brennon

 

David Brennan was born on 26 December 1891 at Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, the ninth or tenth of twelve children of blacksmith Christopher Brennon and his wife Jane Eliza (nee Hillis). His father died when he was just eight years old. By the time of the 1911 Census David was living at Castleblayney Hill, Newtownhamilton, with his widowed mother and five siblings.

Brennon enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 22 January and 5 February 1913 (No.796). He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.

In late 1914 or early 1915 Brennon fell ill and was evacuated to the UK. He was discharged, being no longer physically fit for war service, on 28 June 1915 (paragraph 392xvi, King's Regulations).

Soon after the war Brennon emigrated to Canada, where he settled in Ottawa.

 

Brennon's brother, Alexander, also served in the war, as a shoeing and carriage-smith in the Royal Engineers.