Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Life Before the War

William Albert (Bill) Feehan was born in Port Victoria South Australia, on the 22nd July 1893. To his mother, Mrs Annie Feehan and his father Mr Patrick John Feehan. He had an older brother, Richard Victor Patrick Feehan, a little brother, John Walter Feehan and another brother Joseph Feehan (age not yet discovered). He was brought up within the Roman Catholic religion. He completed his schooling at Port Victoria Public School along with his siblings, as they were very close in age. William was employed as a labourer as soon as he left school.1

Military Career

He was heavily involved with his community in things like the football club and raising money for different causes. He enlisted for the first time on the 5 September 1914 at the age of 21 but was discharged a month later due to illness. After waiting another four months he reenlisted on 7th January 1915 in Oakland South Australia. He was then sent to serve overseas in the 10th Infantry Battalion and was deployed on the 25th of February 1915. He along with his battalion would undergo training in preparation to serve in Gallipoli.2

Feehan arrived in Gallipoli on the 8th of July, with the 10th Battalion ready to serve. On the same day, 18 officers returned as well, along with 29 other staff and 500 other men that proceeded by boat to Imbros Turkey, reaching there at 7am. Feehan was apart of these 500 men. They camped in another campsite that has been previously set up and rested there for the next three days.

On the 11th of July, Feehan returned to camp in Anzac at around 11am with the 10th Battalion. The rest at Imbros was much enjoyed as there was a steady supply of food and fresh water available to the soldiers. This was known to be scarce at a lot of campsites and places soldiers stayed. Feehan along with the rest of his men were able to clean their belongings such as clothes, and themselves. Each man was paid one pound by their commander, which they spent on food and other essentials.

According to the 10th battalion unit diary from 13/06/1915 the following occurred. “The 10th Battalion took over from the 11th Battalion, the section of defence had been held by them. The new tunnelled pre trenches were rigorously pushed onwards.” The Unit Diary stated on the 18th July, “The night of Sunday 18th July the troop in fine liaison were removed and the new trenches manned.”

For Feehan and the 10th battalion, Captain H C North M.O went away sick, and Doctor Ingram took over his duties to be in charge of the troops on 19th July.

As stated by the Unit Diary 31/07/1915, the July weather was hot and dry, a large number of men got sick, principally with diarrhoea. The men were obliged to work very hard improving the trenches, making new pre-positions, and bomb holes. Blasting the last wall of July, the enemy had been very busy bomb throwing and the 10th Battalion replied by throwing two bombs back at them. The health of the men was not good, indeed both officers and men became very run down and badly in need of a thorough rest before they would be fit for any marching or attacking.3

W. A. Feehan fought in Gallipoli from 11th July 1915 to 7th August 1915. Before getting sent to Alexandria Hospital for becoming sick with influenza and diarrhoea on the 8th August 1915. Eight days later on the 16th August he was admitted to a 3rd auxiliary hospital (Gloucester Castle) for rest whilst actively fighting influenza. He remained in hospital for around six months, before he was sent to Zeitoun training camp for a few weeks and was soon he was posted to the YMCA for duties on the 28th September 1916. It is not clear as to what these duties could have been, however, YMCA was a very Christian organisation in the early 1900s, this is likely why he did not return to the front lines. Along with the fact that he could have been too sick to physically serve on the front lines.

Feehan remained at the YMCA with duties until he fell ill again on 26th October 1917. He was admitted into a hospital and transferred to the YMCA for rest. Between late October of 1917 and late August 1918, he was hospitalised over ten times and was diagnosed with things like malaria and an old fracture was found in his collar bone. Finally, he was admitted to the YMCA for duties 25th August 1918 one last time.  Feehan served there until he was relieved from all duties on the 12th December 1918.4

Life after the War

Evidence shows that most soldiers attended things like sporting events and concerts while waiting to go home by boat. Unfortunately for Bill, he got sent back to hospital on June 3rd, 1919, roughly two weeks before he got sent back to Australia by ship on the 16th June 1919. Assuming it took around 3 to 4 months he docked in Port Adelaide around mid-September 1919 and was taken to hospital straight away. He was finally discharged from hospital on the 24th October 1919.4

Feehan was awarded two medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal. Along with his fellow servicemen he received these for his services in WW1.

Feehan went home to Barmera and was still heavily involved in the community, through things like the football club management committee. He took place in organizing fund raisers such as a “fancy dress” football match between local teams. The football club was called the Barmera Football Club and joined the Upper Murray Football Association in 1921, nowadays it is called the Barmera-Monash Football Club and they do things like catering and hold events at their clubrooms. This is definitely a reflection on Bill’s generation, as they put so much work, time, and love into that club and community. He also took on roles such as B Grade secretary, presented with things such as a “kit bag” from the local players and supporters because of his hard work and support that he put into the local community. There is also evidence of him helping out widows and families after they lost their husbands and loved ones due to the war.5

Shortly after returning home from France, he married Mary McMahon, at St. Rose’s Church, Kapunda, on September 16, 1924. They then had their only child, a daughter Patricia Carmel on the 9th August 1925, at Barmera.5

W.A. Feehan served in WW2, he enlisted at the ripe age of 46 serving on the SA L C (South Australian Line of Communication).6 The location that Bill served at operated subordinate elements in the Line of Communications structure. This provided administrative control of personnel, equipment, stores, and consumables being produced stored and moved throughout the surrounding jurisdiction.7

After serving in WW2 Bill was still active in his local Barmera community, right up until he moved into the War Veterans Home in Myrtle Bank South Australia, where he passed away on the 29th December 1975 at the age of 82.8 It cannot be proven how he died, but we can assume it was old age as he was healthy for the most part post war, when he returned to Australia.

How did William Albert Bill Feehan Reflect the Anzac Spirit characteristics?

Bill reflects the Anzac spirit characteristic of perseverance because no matter how many times he

was ill, sick, or hospitalised, he never stopped serving. Even though he wasn’t necessarily on the front lines, he was always supporting any way he could. Whether it was duties at the YMCA whilst he was recovering or serving in WW2 supporting the personnel on the front line and serving his country. This continued into his latter life where he served his community at Barmera in various ways, including the football club.

He also reflects the Anzac spirit characteristic of mateship because even though he wasn’t 100% well when he returned to Australia, he supported the families of his fellow servicemen and women. Mateship shows in his latter life as he was always wanting to support and be involved in his surrounding community. This meant for Bill that he reflects the Anzac spirit characteristics because he was always there to support whoever surrounded him. It seemed that he wanted to give back to others in any way he possibly could.