WHELAN, Maurice Vincent
| Service Number: | 6625 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 February 1916, Place of Enlistment, Brisbane, Queensland. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 42nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Illowa, Victoria, Australia , 1892 |
| Home Town: | Kilkivan, Gympie Regional Council, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Illowa State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Drowned whilst swimming, France, 17 May 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Querrieu British Cemetery, Picardie |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Brisbane 42nd Infantry Battalion AIF Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 6625, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Place of Enlistment, Brisbane, Queensland. | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 6625, 15th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Boonah embarkation_ship_number: A36 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Oct 1916: | Embarked Private, 6625, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Boonah, Brisbane | |
| 16 May 1918: | Involvement Private, 6625, 42nd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 6625 awm_unit: 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-05-16 |
Maurice Vincent Whelan.
Anzac Square & Memorial
There were many unfortunate ways that people died during WWI. Maurice Vincent Whelan, a farmer, who served with the 42nd Battalion died not on the battlefield but during a bathing parade. A simple accident resulted in his death just mere months before the end of the war. From his service records Maurice's time with the AIF seemed uneventful until tragedy struck on 16 May 1918 when he and other members of the 42nd visited a local pool in France. Sometime during this outing Maurice was found unresponsive in the water and was dragged out by fellow soldiers who performed CPR but were unable to revive him.
A Court of Inquiry found that there was no medical explanation for his death and that he was known to be a strong swimmer. It was concluded that his death was likely due to a cramp or exhaustion. In another sad turn of events his personal effects were lost at sea when the ship they were aboard, the SS Barunga, was sunk after it was hit by a torpedo from a German submarine 150 miles south west of the Scilly Isles.
Submitted 20 June 2022 by Lynette Turner
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