PHELAN, John Francis
| Service Number: | 3894 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 9 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 59th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mt Eccles, Victoria, Australia, 1897 |
| Home Town: | Leongatha, South Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Mt Eccles and Korumburra State Schools, Victoria |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Korumburra War Memorial, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 9 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3894, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3894, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3894, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Adelaide | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3894, 59th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3894 awm_unit: 59th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
Help us honour John Francis Phelan's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Jack Coyne
His father and mother gave permission for him to enlist (see page 6 of his file)
He had been a junior and senior cadet
He was originally in the 12th reinforcement 8th Battalion
3/4/16 He was taken on strength to the 59th from the 2nd training battalion at Ferry Post
9/4/16 He was sick with influenza
9/4/16 He was ill and transferred to The 2nd Casualty Clearing Station 15th Field Ambulance at staging camp
13/4/16 He was discharged to duty and taken on strength from hospital at Ferry Post
10/5/16 He was reported AWL 0800 to 0915 on 7/5/16 at Duntoon Plateau and received one weeks fatigue duty.
26/5/16 He was ill with parotitis
29/5/16 He returned to his unit at Monscar
All above in Egypt
18/6/16 He embarked Alexandria on the Kinfauns Castle
29/6/16 He disembarked at Marseilles
19/7/16 He was missing in action at Fromelles
29/8/17 A Court of Enquiry declared he was killed in action on 19/7/16
He was presumed to be buried in a mass grave
On page 13 of his file is a training certificate from the cadets
On page 22 of his file there is a letter from Mrs. Phelan written on October 20th 1916. She stated that she received information from a soldier from Korumburra saying jack Phelan was slightly wounded and was in a hospital somewhere.
His mother is in Korumburra and his father in Eaglehawk
The YMCA look into his case
2/10/17 Mr. Lloyd of YMCA committee Korumburra sent a letter which is on page 34 of the file.
A private Wilkinson said that Jack Phelan was suffering shell shock having been wounded in the arm and was in a hospital No 17 Hut Weymouth Hospital West Ham England. Mrs. Phelan sent a photo to Pt. Wilkinson and he recognized it as the former mate he had seen in Weymouth.
All this has made Mrs. Phelan very nervous and upset
27/6/17 Mrs. Phelan received a letter stating that No 3894 Private Phelan is alive and well and serving in France
17/9/17A Letter was received by his family stating that J Phelan was found to have been killed in action on 19/7/16.
Source: https://www.leongathahistory.org.au/portfolio-archive/john-francis-phelan/
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