Maurice John (Chum) BRENNAN

Maurice John (Chum) BRENNAN Update Details

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BRENNAN, Maurice John

Service Number:	WX9031
Enlisted:	25 October 1940
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion
Born:	Perth, Western Australia, Australia, 4 July 1913
Home Town:	Highgate, Vincent, Western Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Labourer
Died:	Illness whilst a Prisoner of the Japanese, Thailand, 27 September 1943, aged 30 years
Cemetery:	Kanchanaburi War Cemetery 1 O 70, Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand
Memorials:	Augusta War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial

World War 2 Service

25 Oct 1940:	Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, WX9031, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion
25 Oct 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX9031, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Claremont, WA, Australia
25 Oct 1940:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, WX9031
2 Feb 1942:	Promoted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Corporal, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion
23 Aug 1943:	Imprisoned Malaya/Singapore, Reported Missing -8 April 1942 Confirmed PoW 23 August 1943 Held in Kinsaiyok, Brankassi, Hindaine and Kuii Camps in Thailand Died in Kuii Camp on 12 September 1945

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Chum was the second child (and eldest son) of George Brennan (born 1892 at Karridale near Busselton in WA) and Mary Catherine Herlihy (born 1883 in Perth, WA). George (a Labourer) and Mary married in 1911 in Perth and lived there and in Busselton, Northam and Augusta where George worked for WA Railways as a Sleeper Cutter, Porter, Shunter, Cleaner and Watchman.

Chum was working for WA Railways (Goods Porter) in Perth in 1938 when he married Agnes Smart Scott (nee Drysdale, born 1912 in Scotland). He enlisted in the Army in January 1940 and was a Corporal (Service No:WX9031) with 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion when he was reported missing on 8 April 1942 in Malaya. Chum was Reported as a PoW on 23 August 1943 and was held in Kinoaiyok, Brankassi, Hindaine and Kuii PoW Camps in Thailand. He died on 12 September 1945 in Kuii Camp, According to 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion Assn 'Maurice was selected in Singapore to work on the Burma - Thai Railway with D Force V Battalion which departed by train for Bampong, Thailand on 17 March 1943' (2nd4thmgb.com.au)

Chum's father George served in both Wars, and three brothers (Edward, Peter and Gerry) also served in WWII.

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