Page from scrapbook

Page from scrapbook

Two newspaper cuttings concerning award of Distinguished Flying Medal for Borrowash airman, Pilot Officer John Brennan. Gives some personal information and mentions his Halifax ditching in the North Sea and being in dinghies for 18 hours. Includes a ticket for witness to investiture at Buckingham Palace.

1945-08-10

1945-07-31

Two newspaper cuttings and a printed ticket mounted on a scrapbook page

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SBrennanJ1210913v20002-00070003

[missing letters]ENING TELEGRAPH, FR[missing letters]

[photograph]
P.O. BRENNAN

BORROWASH AIRMAN AT PALACE

Pilot Officer John Brennan, whose wife lives at 17, Elm-street, Borrowash, attended Buckingham Palace on Tuesday to receive the D.F.M. awarded him in August last year for "courage and devotion to duty over many heavily defended targets, such as Berlin and Frankfurt."

The 24-years-old son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Brennan, of "Brookfield," Manor-road, Borrowash. Pilot Officer Brennan volunteered for service in November, 1940. He has completed 46 operational flights, and for 12 months was a member of the Pathfinder force. Since June last year he has been instructing in this country.

"GOLDFISH"

In June, 1943, his Halifax was "ditched" in the North Sea, and he and the fellow-members of his crew were in their dinghies for nearly 18 hours before being picked up. This qualified them for membership of the Goldfish Club.

After leaving St. Mary's Catholic School, Derby, Pilot Officer Brennan was employed by Messrs. Gee, Walker and Slater, Ltd., as a bricklayer. He married Miss Gladys Margaret Evans, of Bridgend, Wales, on January 29 last year.

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THE DERBYSHIRE ADVERTISER, AUGUST 10, 1945

–

D.F.M. FOR BORROWASH AIRMAN

The King conferred the D.F.M. on Pilot Officer John Brennan, of 17, Elm-street, Borrowash, at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace, last week.

P/O. Brennan, who is 24 years of age, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Brennan, of Brookfield, Manor Road, Borrowash, a well-known Roman Catholic family in the district.

John was educated at St. Mary's School, Derby, and was afterwards employed by Messrs. Gee, Walker and Slater. He volunteered for service in 1940, and the honour was conferred on him for "courage and devotion to duty over many heavily defended targets such as Berlin and Frankfurt."

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3365
BUCKINGHAM PALACE.

Admit one to witness the Investiture (at 10.15 o'clock a.m.)

[rubber stamp] 31 JUL 1945

[signature]
Lord Chamberlain.