T/10690465 Private Thomas Brennan
T/10690465 Driver Thomas Fitzgerald Brennan, the son of John and Alice Brennan was born on May 27, 1909, in
Seacombe, Cheshire. Thomas's future wife, Edith Winifred Adamson was born to her parents William and Margaret Adamson
on 11th March 1910 and baptised on 1st May 1910 at Eastham St Mary, Cheshire.
In 1921 Thomas was living at 18 Bellevue Road, Seacombe, in the home of his grandparents, Thomas and Mary Tallis,
together with his mother Alice Brennan and his older sister, Mary Maud.
Also living in the same property are his aunts, Maud Emily Tallis, Bertha Lomax Tallis and Viviri Ruby Tallis.
In late 1931 Thomas married Edith Winifred of Cosby Green, Liverpool in West Derby, Liverpool.
In 1933 Thomas was living at 12 Herschel Street, West Derby, Liverpool, with Edith Winifred, although she is listed
as Winifred Adamson Brennan.
In 1935-1938 Thomas and his wife were living at 19 Whitby Street, West Derby, Liverpool. At this point rather than refer to herself as Edith Winifred,
she has reversed the order of her names to Winifred Edith, suggesting she was known by her middle name Winifred rather than Edith.
In 1939, Thomas was living with Edith at 2 Holly Mount, Mill Lane, West Derby, Liverpool 12. Living next door are Thomas parents-in-law,
William Alfred Adamson and Margaret Elsie Adamson.
Prior to enlisting on 20th April 1942, Thomas's civilian occupation was Taxi driver.
On 7th February 1944 he was posted to the 250th (Airborne) Light Composite
Company, Royal Army Service Corps, where he was assigned to ‘A’ (Airfield) Platoon.
At some stage after this he was ‘X’ Listed and posted to Headquarters Company, 11th Parachute Battalion. As he was
not parachute trained, he would have been sent to the Motor Transport Platoon. As Thomas was a driver in the Motor
Transport Platoon, it is very likely he landed per glider with his jeep onboard.
Considerable modifications to the Horsa glider were needed to enable it
to transport the jeep. As soon as the glider had
come to a full stop, provided the glider was "intact", the tail section of the glider would be removed, two
driving ramps would be clamped to the glider and the jeep would be driven out by its driver.
Although Thomas's gravestone states he died on September 25th 1944, his remains were found in a field grave
along the Klein Amerikaweg in
Renkum. This was located in the area of landing zone 'X' on the Remkumse Heide. However, on September 25, there were
no longer any British soldiers in the vicinity of the Klein Amerikaweg in Renkum. Therefore, it is highly probable
Thomas was killed in action on September 18 or 19, 1944.
Thomas was previously reported missing, later reported
killed in action at the age of 35. He is buried at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, grave 29.B.4.
It was not until 13th June 1955 that probate on Thomas's estate valued at £448 11s was settled.