Alfred Harper Whalan

  General Notes:

Whalan, Alfred Harper MM
Number: 255
Rank: Private [Pte]
Unit: 49th Bn
Service: Army
Conflict: 1914-1918
Date of Death: 03/09/1916
Place of Death:
Cause of Death:
Memorial Panel: 149
Cemetery or Memorial Details: 26 Villers Bretonneux-France
Next Of Kin:
Place Of Enlistment: Oberon, New South Wales, Australia
Native Place:
Notes: WHALAN, Pte. Alfred Harper, 255, M.M 49th Bn. 3rd Sept., 1916. Age 32. of Alfred Samuel and Agatha Josephine Whalan, of Burnt Yards, Mandurama, New South Wales. Born at Oberon, New South Wales.
Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Alfred Harper WHALAN
Regimental number 255
Place of birth Oberon, New South Wales
Religion Methodist
Occupation Labourer
Address Care of F W Caswell, Murgon, Queensland
Marital status Single
Age at embarkation 29
Next of kin Father, Alfred Samuel Whalan, Oberon, New South Wales
Previous military service Nil
Enlistment date 2 September 1914
Date of Enlistment from Nominal Roll 2 September 1915
Rank on enlistment Private
Unit name 9th Battalion, B Company
AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/26/1
Embarkation details Unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, Queensland, on board Transport A5 S.S Omrah on 24 September 1914
Rank from Nominal Roll Private
Unit from Nominal Roll 49th Battalion
Fate Killed in Action 3 September 1916
Place of death or wounding France
Age at death 32
Commemoration details Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France
Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.
The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.
On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.
After the war an appeal in Australia raised 22,700 Pounds, of which 12,500 Pounds came from, Victoria, Australian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of, Victoria, Australian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, Australia, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial 149
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records Parents: Alfred Samuel and Agatha Josephine WHALAN.
Medals Military Medal
'At POZIERES, who on the night of 13th/14th August, 1916, went out under a heavy barrage to reconnoitre the enemy's position. They took shelter in shell holes during the whole day (14th instant) and returned during night of 14/15th instant with valuable information regarding enemy's positions.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917
Other details Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victoria, Australiatory Medal [Phoenix family tree.ged]

  Noted events in his life were:

• Military: WWI.