Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Served on the 'Boonah' for 2 years during which time he twice escaped from submarine attacks. He then left the ship to enlist in the AIF.

He was 31 and the son of Martin McKeon Brennan and Catherine McKeon Brennan, of Moneenroe, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Edward (Eddie) Brennan (Service Number: 7129) was born on 27 March 1888 to Martin and Catherine Brennan in Moneenroe, Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, Ireland. He attended the local Gazebo National School, and like many young men from Ireland, eventually sought opportunities abroad. At some point, Eddie emigrated to America, where he served on the ship Boonah for two years, surviving two close encounters with submarines.
 
During World War I, Eddie found himself in yet another harrowing situation. His ship was torpedoed on Christmas Eve, and he spent the entire night drifting in a lifeboat. He was one of only five crew members who survived that ordeal. When Eddie later arrived in Australia, he faced yet another challenge, the naval strike. This left him with little money, and he had to stretch what he had to cover food and accommodation. Despite these hardships, he didn’t let it deter him. Eddie refused a rent-free offer from his landlady at 22 Lower Fort Street, The Rocks, Sydney, insisting he didn’t want to take advantage of others. On 15 August 1917, he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at the Sydney Showgrounds and boarded the troopship Euripides. The voyage to England took over 70 days.
 
Once in England, Eddie arrived at Fovant Camp, Salisbury, on 27 December 1917 to begin his army training. Though he had previously suffered from Bright’s Disease, by the time he wrote to his mother on 12 January 1918, he had fully recovered. Eddie made sure that three shillings from his pay would go to support his family, and in the event of his death, any pension would be sent to them.
 
Before heading to the front lines in France, Eddie took furlough to visit his parents in Ireland. He brought along his friend, Oliver Carlow Capararo, a fellow soldier he had met in Australia. Eddie knew that having a trusted friend in the army was important, especially given the prevalence of theft. Oliver, like Eddie, had worked as a labourer and came from Lostock, Dungog, New South Wales. Eddie was nervous about returning to Ireland, given the political unrest following the 1916 Easter Rising.
 
On 9 April 1918, Eddie marched with his unit, D Company, 17th Battalion, 2nd Division, A.I.F., to join the front lines at Allonville, France. By 20 April, they were entrenched in the brutal realities of war.
 
The 17th Battalion diary recorded a heavy German artillery barrage at 3:45 am on 14 May 1918. Eddie’s company fought all night, but Eddie wasn’t feeling well. He confided this to his friend Oliver, who later saw Eddie being carried into a hospital tent. Just two hours later, Eddie was carried out, having passed away. His belongings were sent home to his parents. Though the cause of death is unclear, it’s possible Eddie fell victim to the Spanish Flu, which was spreading rapidly through the trenches at that time.
 
When word of Eddie’s death reached his niece, Katherine Wingfield, and her family, they were sitting down to breakfast. Overcome with grief, Katherine cried all the way to school, and her teachers led her class in saying the Rosary in his memory.
 
Eddie was deeply missed by his family. His death left a significant void, particularly for his parents, Martin and Catherine, who had already endured the heartbreak of seeing their son leave for distant lands in search of opportunity and safety. The bond between Eddie and his family had remained strong despite the physical distance that separated them, with letters serving as a lifeline that kept the family connected. His regular correspondence, especially during the war, reassured his parents of his well-being and allowed them to share in his experiences and hopes, however brief those moments might have been.
 
Eddie’s sudden and tragic death in the war, far from home and under such grim circumstances, magnified the grief his family felt. They had clung to the hope that he would survive the dangers of war and eventually return home. The news of his passing devastated them, especially his niece, Katherine Wingfield, who was particularly close to him. The memory of that moment when the family learned of his death, the quiet breakfast shattered by unimaginable loss, remained vivid. Katherine’s tears on the way to school, and the comfort of her classmates and teachers praying the Rosary for Eddie, were poignant reminders of how deeply he was cherished.
 
For the Brennan family, Eddie wasn’t just another casualty of war, he was a son, a brother, and an uncle, whose warmth, humor, and resilience were irreplaceable. His letters, mementos, and the stories he shared became the only tangible reminders of the man they had loved so much. His absence at family gatherings and in everyday life was deeply felt, casting a shadow over their lives that lingered long after the war ended. The knowledge that his final days were spent in a war-torn foreign land, facing unimaginable hardships, only compounded their sorrow. For them, Eddie would always be remembered as a courageous and selfless man who sacrificed his life in a distant war, forever missed but never forgotten.

Lest We Forget