217814 Pte. Joseph Brennan British Army 1st/9th Btn. King's (Liverpool) Regiment (d.15th July 1916) Joseph Brennan was executed for desertion on 16th July 1916 and is buried in the Barly French Military Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais, France. Joseph served as a Private with the 8th (Irish) Battalion of the King’s Liverpool Regiment. The barracks were in Shaw Street, Liverpool.
It is not known when Joseph enlisted with the King’s Liverpool Regiment. At this time men volunteered to enlist, they were not yet conscripted. Perhaps Joseph wanted a new life and new opportunities or he may have felt it was important to fight for his adopted country.
What is known it that the Irish Battalion spent time training in England before being sent to France in 1915. In June of that year Joseph would have seen action supporting French troops in Artois, which had previously suffered heavy casualties. The Battalion came under fire and had to retreat, with many killed and wounded.
In Spring 1916 Joseph would have again been involved in trench warfare and operations. The Battalion were rested before moving to the Somme.
We now know what conditions were like in the trenches and what horrors Joesph may have seen, including many comrades killed or wounded. It is easy to see that morale would be low amongst the ranks.
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