Breen T F P Major Royal Army Medical Corps

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Breen T F P Major Royal Army Medical Corps

Major THOMAS FRANCIS PENNEFATHER BREEN

Major T. F. Pennefather Breen, R.A.M.C., born 1889 and killed in action on September 18th, 1918, was the elder son of the late Doctor Breen and Mrs. Breen, of Dublin. He came to Stonyhurst in 1900, and was a boy of much character. Freddie, for so he was known amongst us, had a good standing in his class. He was a prize-man, and when in Poetry, in 1905, gained the first prize for debating, given by the Stonyhurst Association. He was a fluent and ready speaker. On leaving Stonyhurst he went to Trinity College, Dublin, where he took the B.A. and M.B. degrees. In 1913 he passed into the Army Medical Service from Trinity College, one of the two successful candidates out of twenty-seven from Ireland at that examination. This he did without any special cramming.

On the outbreak of the war he crossed over to France with the first British Expeditionary Force, and was attached to the 11th Field Ambulance during the retreat from Mons. Subsequently he served as Regimental Medical Officer with the 1st Bn. The Rifle Brigade, having been specially asked for by the Colonel. He was twice called to the 3rd Army School of Instruction, his lecturing powers being of a high order. He also twice served as D.A.D.M.S., and he exhibited in a marked degree high qualities of initiative and administrative capacity. Finally, he served during the last advance with the 142nd Field Ambulance, and when his Colonel was wounded, commanded the Ambulance, during some of the severest fighting. At the time of his death he was performing an exceptionally gallant and unselfish action. Having led a bearer party, under heavy shell fire, in order to rescue some wounded officers, he passed through the barrage once, bringing in one comrade. He then went out a second time alone, and did not return. This was during the Battle of Epchy, second of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line.

As his Colonel wrote:-

He died as he lived, an honourable, gallant gentleman. His coolness and bravery were known to all. It was, in fact, his zeal and unselfish devotion to duty that cost him his life.

As his late Commanding Officer, I should like to say how much I valued him, both as a friend and as an officer of the ambulance. He was absolutely fearless and self-sacrificing, and my last act before being evacuated wounded from France was to recommend him for a Military Cross. The news of his death came as a great shock to me personally, for I had grown very fond of him.

From a brother officer’s letter we learn that:-

He was very popular with everyone, and such a splendid soldier; his men would follow him througli anything.

Another tells us:-

He was one of my most esteemed friends, though a good deal younger than me. We mobilised together, and I was able to observe him in all sorts of trying circumstances, and we were frequently under fire together, and I formed a very high opinion of hit character, and looked upon him as one of the coming men in the R.A.M.C. One of his traits that specially impressed me was his independence of mind. He kept steadily to his own high standard of living, quite regardless of the morals of the company he lived in. For a quite young man to do this in military society is a sign of exceptional strength of character. But with it all there was never the slightest pose or priggishtiess Of his physical courage you will probably have heard from others. I know by experience that it was of a very high order, But I write to you because I think that others who did not know him so well as 1 did may not have mentioned his moral courage, a rarer and higher thing.

We may aptly conclude this account with the words written by an officer and friend

His memory survives to us as invigorating and vital. Age, disillusion, decay, never tonched him. Like a bright flame he burnt, and is suddenly extinguished to his friends the world is darker.

Source : Stonyhurst Roll Of Honour 1914-1918

BREEN, THOMAS FRANCIS PENNEFATHER, Major, Royal Army Medical Corps, elder s. of the late Thomas John Breen, Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets, Royal Navy, by his wife, Mary, dan. of William Pennefather, of Ballylanigan, co. Tipperary: b. Dublin, 8 June, 1889; edne. Stonyhurst College, and Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his B.A. and M.B. degrees: gazetted Lient. Royal Army Medical Corps in Feb. 1914: promoted Capt, the following Aug. and Major in March, 1918; on the outbreak of war served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Aug. 1914. and was attached to the 11th Field Ambulance, taking part in the Retreat from Mons, and in the operations on the Aisne was subsequently attached to the 1st Rifle Brigade as Regimental Medical Officer, and later twice appointed D.A.D.M.S.: in 1918 was attached to the 142nd Field Ambulance which he commanded during some of the severest fighting in the final push, and was killed in action on 18 Sept, following, while gallantly rescuing the wounded under heavy shell fire. Buried at Monchies, north of the Bapaume-Cambrai Road. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He died as he lived, an honourable. gallant gentleman. His coolness and bravery were known to all. It was, in fact, his zeal and unselfish devotion to duty that cost him his life. I should like to say how much I valued him, both as a friend and an officer of the ambulance. He was absolutely fearless and self-sacrificing, and my last act, before being evacuated wounded from France, was to recommend him for a Military Cross,” and a brother officer:”He was very popular with everyone, and such a splendid soldier, his men would follow him everywhere.” Another also wrote: “He was one of my most esteemed friends, though a good deal younger than me.. … We were frequently under fire together, and I formed a very high opinion of his character, and looked upon him as one of the coming men of the Royal Army Medical Corps. One of his traits that specially impressed me was his independence of mind. He kept steadily to his own high standard quite regardless of the company he lived in. Of his physical courage you will probably have heard from others. but I write because I think that others. who did not know him so well as I did, may not have mentioned his moral courage, a rarer and a higher thing.” Unm

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bree E R S Lt 8th Duke Of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

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BREE, EDWARD RUSSELL STAPYLTON, Lient., 8th (Service) Battn. The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, only s. of the late Rev. Edward Henry Bree, late Rector of Stow St. Mary, by his wife, Charlotte Jane (Britannia House, Hunstanton), dau. of the late Rev. John Russell Jackson, M.A.; and gdson. of the late Right Rev. H. Bree, D.D., Bishop of Barbados; b. Stow St. Mary, co. Lincoln, 27 Feb. 1897; educ. St. Edmund’s School, Canterbury, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in July, 1915; promoted Lieut. 29 Dec. 1916; served with the British Expeditionary Force in the Balkans from Nov. 1917, and was killed in action near Dora Tepe 18 Sept. 1918. on the first day of the British offensive. Buried where he fell. His Commanding Officer wrote: He was a first-rate officer, always keen to take out patrol, and undertake duties of a dangerous nature. I had the greatest admiration for him, my one difficulty being to restrain him from going too far. We have all lost a cheery companion.” A brother officer also wrote: ” He was leading his men gallantly when he fell, and his
loss is deeply felt by the whole battalion.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brassey A Pte 4th Cheshire Regiment

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BRASSEY, ALBERT, Private, 4th (Territorial) Battn. The Cheshire Regt., s. of James Thompson Brassey, of 7, Whitfield Street, Tranmere, Shipping Clerk, by his wife, Elizabeth; b. Birkenhead, co. Chester, 6 Oct. 1893; educ. St. Peter’s School there was for seven years a Clerk in a Shipping Company: enlisted in Nov. 1914; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from June, 1915, and was killed in action while landing at Suvla Bay 9 Aug. following; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brash R Pte 105136 Machine Gun Corps

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BRASH, ROBERT, Private, No. 105136, Machine Gun Corps, s. of Robert Brash, of 12, Society Place, West Calder, Stableman, by his wife, Catherine, dau. of Joseph Rankine; b. West Calder, co. Midlothian, 21 Nov. 1883; educ. Public School there was a Cabinet Maker enlisted in Nov. 1900; served 12 years with the Colours and afterwards in the Reserve; was called up on mobilization 4 Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from that month, and was killed in action 1 April, 1918. Buried where he fell. He m. 31 Dec. 1913, Eliza, dau. of (-) Mackay, and had a dau., Margaret.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brash E 2nd Lt 13th Royal Welsh Fusiliers

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BRASH, EDMUND, 2nd Lieut.. 13th (Service) Battn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers, only s. of James Brash, of Vineyard. Hereford, late Proprietor of the West Cumberland Times, by his wife. Marie, dau. of the late Edmund Morton, of Elton; b. Elton, near Peterborough, 31 Jan. 1895; educ. Cathedral School, Hereford, and Friends’ Commercial School, Lancaster; was on the Commercial Staff of the “Hereford Journal and Mercury”; joined the Hereford Territorial Regt. 7 Sept. 1914: served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Aug. 1916, being attached to the Scouts Section of the 9th Battn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers: returned to England in June, 1917, and after a period of training at an Officers’ Training Camp near Rhyl, was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5th Battn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers, and attached to 13th Battn. The Royal Welch Fusiliers 30 Oct. 1917: went back to France the following Jan., and died at Sailly-Saillisel 2 Sept. 1918, from wounds received in action there on the previous day. Buried at Varennes. An officer wrote: “He was loved by his fellow officers and the men in his platoon, and his loss is very keenly felt,” and the Chaplain: “He was a great favourite, and had done splendidly all through.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brantom F Pte 41972 7th Norfolk Regiment

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Brantom F Pte 41972 7th Norfolk Regiment

BRANTOM, FRANK, Private, No. 41972, 7th (Service) Battn. The Norfolk Regt., only s. of William Joseph Brantom, of 25 Wolverton Road, Newport Pagnell, co. Buckingham, Loco. Engine Driver, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of John Frederick Stevens, of Leighton Buzzard, co. Bedford; b. 8 Dec. 1899; educ. Newport Pagnell County Council School: was apprenticed to the Motor Body Building, at Morgan’s, Leighton Buzzard: joined the East Surrey Regt. 28 Jan. 1918; was transferred to the Herts Yeomanry in April of the same year; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 1 Aug. following, being again transferred to the 7th Norfolk Regt. was reported wounded and missing after the fighting before Cambrai on the 22nd of that month, and is now assumed to have been killed in action on or about that date. While in France he saved one of his comrades by jumping in the canal, and so saved him from drowning; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brant J S L/Cpl 420336 10th London Regiment

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BRANT, JOHN SAMUEL, L.-Corpl.. No. 420336, 1/10th Battn. (Hackney) The London Regt. (T.F.), only child of John Brant, by his wife. Annie (-): b. London, 1891 educ. there joined the Territorials some time previous to the outbreak of war was called up on mobilization in Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 1916 subsequently proceeded to Egypt, and was killed in action there 2 Nov. 1917. Buried where he fell. He m. at Tottenham. N.. in Dec. 1911. Adelaide (116, Welbourne Road. Tottenham. N.), dau. of George Clarke, and had three children: John. Rosiana and Dorothy.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Braine C S Acting Lt HMS Anchusa Royal Naval Reserve

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BRAINE, CARL SVEND, Acting Lieut.. Royal Naval Reserve, 4th 8. of George Duncan Braine, of Kirkmichael, Galton Road, Westcliff-on-Sea. co. Essex, Trinity House Pilot, by his wife. Mary Emslie, dau. of Capt. William Robertson, of Peterhead, co. Aberdeen. Merchant Service: b.8 June. 1894; edue. Lindisfarne College, Westcliff-on-Sea, and H.M.S. Conway. Rock Ferry, co. Chester: joined the Clan Line of Glasgow as Midshipman in 1910; obtained 2nd Mate’s Certificate in 1913: appointed 5th Officer R.M.S.P. Trent: gazetted Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve in 1911 on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914. appointed Sub-Lieut. H.M.S. Hildebrand, 10th Cruiser Squadron; volunteered for special service, and from Oct. 1917. served on H.M.S. Anchusa, which was then fitted out as a mystery ship, and was lost at sea when that ship was torpedoed by enemy submarine 16 July, 1918. A survivor wrote: “A better officer to serve under I will never find.” and Lieut. Broadbent, Commander School Ship Conway: “He served his country loyally and most usefully for four years, and died a sailor’s death ….unflinchingly.” Uum.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brady J Pte 13303 11th Cheshire Regiment

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BRADY, JOSEPH, Private. No. (-). 11th (Service) Battn. The Cheshire Regt., 3rd s. of Thomas Brady, of 12. Myrtle Court. Birkenhead. Docker, by his wife. Mary; b. Birkenhead. co. Chester: educ. Our Lady’s School there was em-ployed as an Assistant in the Frame Room at Messrs. Lever Brothers, Port Sun-light: enlisted in Sept. 1914: served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from about Aug. 1915, and was killed in action at Messines Ridge 8 June, 1917.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Brady F T Rfn 2732 8th London Regiment

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BRADY, FRANCIS THOMAS, Rifleman, 8th Battn. (Post Office Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Thomas Francis Brady. Chairman of the Local Board, by his wife. Elizabeth, 3rd dau. of the late George Harris, of Southampton; b. Portsmouth. co. Hants, 7 Sept. 1896: educ. Secondary School. Southsea, and on leaving there was employed at the Portsmouth Post Office: joined the Post Office Rifles 14 Sept. 1914, after the outbreak of war; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 18 March, 1915; was wounded, and died 21 May, 1916. from wounds received in action; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5