38652 Pte Robert Frederick Drennan, 7th Bn, Leicestershire Regt

I was gratified to receive two comments yesterday, both from relatives of men that I have commemorated on this blog. Those men are Private James Lavin (killed in action 11/11/1918) and Pte Selim Bernstein (died of wounds 08/09/1915). As a result of those comments I now know a little more about both men. Thank you Phil and Rebecca.

Today, I pay tribute to Robert Frederick Drennan who died on this day, the day after the Armistice had been declared, in 1918. Robert's partial service record survives at the National Archives and the following information is taken from this.

Robert Drennan attested for service at West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire on 11th December 1915 and he was called up on 2nd June 1917. He gave his age as 36 years and six months, his address as 60 Gordon Road, West Bridgford, and his trade as a tailor's cutter. He had married Dorothy Gertrude Seddon at Trinity Church, Chesterfield in June 1908 and the couple had two daughters: Dorothy Marjorie Drennan (born July 18th 1912) and Jean Mary Drennan (born September 8th 1914).

At some point during his service, his wife appears to have moved house as her address (as the next of kin) is given as 11 West Street, Chesterfield. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes the same street for her but gives the number 9.

Effects Form 118A records that any "articles of personal property" should be sent to Mr James Drennan of Beauchief near Sheffield, whilst medals were to be sent to Mr D G Drennan of 60 Gordon Road, West Bridgford. Robert's father was James and I presume that D G Drennan was a brother.

I am not clear on the exact sequence of Robert's army service but he had two numbers: 87531 and 38652 and it is the latter number (with the Leicestershire Regiment) that appears on his medals. At one stage he was with the 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment but he was serving with the 7th Battalion when he died. He arrived in France on 2nd October 1917 and was posted to the 7th Battalion five days later.

At the time of his death, Robert was Prisoner of War, No: 1152. He died in the Prisoner of War hospital at Gottingen in Germany at 7am on the 12th November 1918. His religion is recorded as Anglican but there is no cause of death noted. He is buried in Niederzwehren Cemetery in Hessen, Germany.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC, WO 363 service record)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission