Jan 3, 1897

Born in Liverpool, England to John and Winifred (nee McGreavey) Brennan

May 30, 1912

Embarked the SS Corsican as a British Home Child under the care of the Catholic Emigration Association

Jun 9, 1912

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Ottawa, Ontario

After being processed, he was placed on the farm of Mr. Patrick Ryan, Carp, Ontario

Mar 18, 1916

Attested into the 154^th Battalion in Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Number 633885

Ø  Next of kin given as Mrs. Bridget Brennan, mother, 41 Victoria Square, Liverpool, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Farmer

Ø  No previous military experience given

Ø  Religion given as Roman Catholic

The battalion trained in the Barriefield Camp, Kingston, Ontario

Sep 19, 1916

Reported to be AWL (Absent Without Leave)

Sep 27, 1916

Reported for duty and forfeited 9 days pay for his absence

Oct 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Mauretania in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 31, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to Bramshott to continue training

Jan 31, 1917

Transferred to the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion at East Sandling

Shortly after the formation of the battalion, it moved to Seaford to train reinforcements for the front

Apr 17, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Apr 18, 1917

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

May 5, 1917

After leaving the base depot, Private Brennan joined the 21^st Battalion in division reserve near Thelus, France and was posted to “C” Company

May 14, 1917

After receiving a superficial shrapnel wound to his nose, Private Brennan was admitted to the 2^nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux, France.  From here he was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Lord Derby War Hospital (Whitecross Auxiliary) in Warrington

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) for pay purposes while in hospital

Jun 6, 1917

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital Woodcote Park, Epsom

Jul 6, 1917

Discharged from hospital and transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Granted 10 days sick leave

Jul 19, 1917

Sentenced to 14 days Field Punishment No. 2 for overstaying his leave by 2 days

Oct 26, 1917

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 27, 1917

Arrived at the No. 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Oct 30, 1917

After leaving the base depot, he joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp)

Nov 20, 1917

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Brennan rejoined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Camblain L’Abbe, France

Mar 4, 1918

During a trench raid near Lens, France, Private Brennan received a shrapnel wound to his left hand and was evacuated to the No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transferred to the No. 6 Casualty Clearing Station

Mar 5, 1918

Transferred via the No. 35 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to the No. 4 General Hospital, Camiers, France

Mar 11, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Ville de Liege

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Queen Mary’s Military Hospital, Whalley

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

Mar 21, 1918

Transferred to the No. 16 Canadian Ontario Military Hospital in Orpington, Kent

May 17, 1918

Discharged from hospital and granted sick leave

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Sep 4, 1918

Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Sep 5, 1918

Arrived at the Canadian Infantry Base Depot in Etaples, France and Taken On Strength the 21^st Battalion

Sep 9, 1918

After leaving the base depot, he joined the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp

Sep 11, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Private Brennan rejoined the 21^st Battalion as part of a draft of 50 reinforcements while in Division Reserve behind the Droucourt Queant Line

Oct 11, 1918

During the advance on Avesnes le Sec, France, Private Brennan received a wound to his left arm and was evacuated to the No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid before being transported to the No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station

Oct 13, 1918

Transferred via the No. 23 Ambulance Train and admitted to the No. 4 General Hospital

Oct 18, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen

On arrival in England, he was admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital, Thorpe, Norwich

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

Oct 24, 1918

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom

Nov 22, 1918

Discharged from hospital with leave until December 2, 1918

Dec 2, 1918

Attached to the 1^st CCD (Canadian Command Depot) for physical training and exercise

Dec 12, 1918

Sentenced to 6 days Field Punishment No. 2 and forfeited total of 12 day’s pay for being absent from December 4 to December 10, 1918. 

Dec 31, 1918

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion in Seaford

Jan 18, 1919

Attached to Wing 3 at Kinmel Park, Wales pending return to Canada

Mar 5, 1919

Overnight March 4-5, a riot took place in Kinmel Park and Private Brennan was arrested as one of the leaders of that riot.  Extensive damage was done, 5 men were killed, and many others received wounds of varying seriousness.  

Apr 11, 1919

Private Brennan was charged with

 
1.     First Charge: Joining in a mutiny in forces belong to His Majesty’s Military Forces in that he, at Kinmel Park Camp, on or about the 4^th day of March, joined in a mutiny by combining with other soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, to resist lawful authority and to damage the buildings used as canteens in Nos. 6 and 7 camps, Kinmel Park Camp, and the property therein

2.     Second Charge: Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he, at Kinmel Park Camp, on or about the 4^th day of March 1919, was one of a disorderly crowd of soldiers belonging to the Canadian Expeditionary Force that was damaging the buildings used as canteens in Nos. 6 and 7 camps, Kinmel Park Camp, and the property therein

Apr 19, 1919

A General Court Martial was held at Grace Road Barracks, Orrell Park, Liverpool on the 2 charges.  Private Brennan pled NOT GUILTY.

Testimony for the prosecution indicated that Private Brennan led a group of 300 to 400 soldiers who proceeded to ransack buildings and in particular the canteen at the No. 7 camp. 

A witness for the defence testified that he was with Private Brennan in another canteen at the time, but this testimony was not deemed to be credible.

Private Brennan was found NOT GUILTY of the first charge, but GUILTY of the second charge and sentenced to 1 year imprisonment with hard labour.

May 12, 1919

Transferred to the 6^th Reserve Battalion, then the same day, transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Witley while serving his imprisonment at the Wandsworth Detention Barracks in London

Aug 29, 1919

Transferred to the No. 1 CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton when the remainder of his detention sentence was remitted.

Oct 11, 1919

Embarked the SS Saturnia in Glasgow, Scotland

Oct 20, 1919

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Kingston, Ontario

Oct 21, 1919

Taken On Strength Military District No. 3 in Kingston and posted to the Casualty Company

Oct 22, 1919

Discharged from the CEF in Kingston, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Private

Ø  War Service Badge Class “A” issued number 214899

Ø  Proposes residence on discharge RR No. 1 Carp, Ontario

Following his discharge, the  British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at 426 Arlington Ave., Ottawa, Ontario

Oct 25, 1924

Enlisted into the Royal Canadian Navy Permanent Force as a Second Class Stoker

Nov 10, 1926

Married to Catherine Fincher in Ottawa, Ontario

Mar 24, 1946

John Patrick Brennan retired from the Royal Canadian Navy and moved from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Cornwall, Ontario

Mar 18, 1953

John Patrick Brennan died and was buried in the St. Columbian’s Cemetery, Cornwall, Ontario