69474 Bombardier Thomas Whelan - Royal Field Artillery
Date	Summary of Events and Information	Reference
1st Jan 1894	Thomas Whelan was borne to Mr Patrick and Mrs Bridget Whelan of Coolagh Road, Abbeyside, Dungarvan, County Waterford.	Your E-Mail 16/10/03 WO 363/W1547 Pt III-Pages 9 & 11
1st Jul 1912	Thomas joined the British Army and after some days of tests Medical, fitness ect he was attested at Athlone on the 6th Jul 1912 into The Royal Regiment of Artillery. Thomas declared his age as 18 Years and 6 months. He was a Big man described as being 5 Feet 10 Inches, 137 Lbs with a girth of 36 ˝ Inches, Complexion Fresh, Eyes Grey. Hair Reddish. He had a large flat scar on his inner forearm and his pulse rate being 74. Prior to his enlistment Thomas had been employed as a builder’s labourer and stated he had been employed by Mr James Crotty of 40 Grattan St, Dungarvan, from 1905 until 1912. If this is correct Thomas started work at the tender age of 11 years. His parents were as previously stated and he declared the following. Brothers (2) Michael and William. Sisters (3) Mary, Maggie and Eilleen. No mention of John Joe (Joseph) he may already have died by then.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 6 Pt III-Page 7 Pt III-Page 25 Pt III-Page 9
1st Jul 1912 To 19th Jan 1914	During this time Thomas did his basic training at no 8 Depot R.F.A. (Royal Field Artillery) at Cahir, County Tipperary and served with 53 Bty. It was at this time that the young Thomas had his first brush with military law on 24th Dec 1913 (Christmas Eve) he was charged with being drunk in town, Cahir. He was seen on the 25th Dec 1913 and was admonished. To be admonished was to be found guilty, usually with a minor punishment a "ticking off". In the case of absence, for each day or part of a day absent you would forfeit a days pay.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 14
20th Jan 1914 To 16th Oct 1914	On the face of it Gnr Whelans career was of to a good start, he had by now passed his 3rdClass Education Certificate and was thus qualified for promotion up to the rank of Bombardier (Corporal) and on top of that he had landed a good posting to India. Where he was posted to The 17th Brigade Ammunition Column R.F.A. However the dark clouds of war had gathered over Europe and on the 4th Aug 1914 The Great War started and 17th Brigade R.F.A. with Gunner Whelan was summoned home.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Pages 9 & 11
17th Oct 1914 To 16th Mar 1915	Having arrived back in the UK the Brigade was posted to the 29th Division. This unit was formed in Jan/Feb/ Mar 1915 by bringing regular army units that were on garrison and other duties from around the Empire together. The formation and training of the new Division took place in the midlands at Warwick, Leamington, Nuneaton and Rugby (17th Brigade was at Leamington). This Division was initially earmarked for the Western Front but was eventually selected for service in the Dardanelles. (The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force). Gunner Whelans place in this Division was with 17th Bde Ammunition Column. The Brigade left in nine trains for Avonmouth and on arrival started to embark on two ships The T.S. Dongola and T.S Kingstonian judging from the war diary Thomas was onboard The Kingstonian. The date of sailing also ties in with his military history sheet.	WWI Encyclopaedia WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11 WO95/4380 WO363/1547
17th Mar 1915 To 18th Aug 1915	On the 16th Mar 1915 The 29th Division started to set sail from the port of Avonmouth in the Bristol Channel bound for Egypt and landed two weeks later. Thomas’s ship The Kingstonian sailed on the 17th Mar. The Dongola arrived in Malta 25th Mar 15 and departed on the 26th Mar 15 for Alexandria. The Kingstonian arrived in Malta 26th Mar 15 and departed on the 27th Mar 15 for Alexandria. The Dongola and The Kingstonian arrived in Alexandra on the 29th/30th Mar 15 respectively. On the 8th Apr 15 they received orders to re-embark on the following ships. The Brigade was onboard The T S Haverford and The Ammunition Column (Thomas) on The T S Melville. On the 10th Apr it moved to Mudros a small port on the Greek Island of Lemnos 50 Klm from the Dardanelles. On the 25th Apr The Division landed on Gallipoli at Cape Helles W beach. The Ammunition Column did not come ashore until the 30th Apr and on the 1st May The Brigade Ammunition Column rejoined the Brigade. Note The Lancashire Regt lost over 500 men landing on W beach Gives you some idea of what it was like! Thomas was just in time to take part in defending against the Turkish counter attack on 1st/2nd May and the 2nd Battle of Krithia 6th to 8th May. On the 4th Aug 1915 Gnr Whelan was admitted to No 19 General Hospital at Alexandria, Egypt having been taken ill (Gastritis) on the Gallipoli Peninsula on the 31stJul 1915. His Illness was such that on the 15th Aug 1915 he was evacuated back to England from Alexandria Egypt on board The Hospital ship Asturias.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11 WO95/4380 WWI Encyclopaedia WO363/W1547 MH106/1222 Geoffrey Miller Sydney, Australia. Pt I-Page 6
29th Jan 1902.	Gnr Whelan arrived back in England and served in a number of reserve Brigades while recuperating. These Brigades were The 5th C. Res. Bde, (Charlton Park, London). The 1st A. Res. Bde. (Newcastle-on-Tyne) and The 4th A. Res. Bde. (Woolwich, London).It was during this period that Gnr Whelan was to have his 2nd and 3rd brush with military law. This time twice overstaying his leave. On the 15th Nov 1915 while stationed at Colchester he was charged with overstaying leave and was Admonished but forfeits 2 days pay. On the 2nd Jan 1916 he again overstays his leave and again is admonished but forfeits 3 days pay.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11 Pt III-Pages 16, 16A
2nd Feb 1916 To 28th Nov 1916	Gnr Whelan on arriving in France (The Western Front) initially joined The 20th Division Ammunition Column and also served with the 92nd Bde. During his time with the 20th Division it was involved in the following battles; The Somme 1st Jul 1916 – 18th Nov 1916. The Battle of Delville Woods. 15th Jul – 3rd Sept 1916. The Battle of Guillimont. 3rd Sept - 5th Sept 1916. The Battle of Flers-Courcelette. 15th Sept - 22nd Sept 1916. The battle of Morval. 15th Sept - 28th Sept 1916. The Battle of Le-Transloy Ridges. 1st Oct - 18th Oct 1916. All the battles listed are various phases of the main battle “The Battle of the Somme” and while the Division would have been fully committed to the job in hand. They too would have had to be rested. Exactly what part Thomas’s Battery took I don’t know to find out we will have to consult the relevant War Diary. Whichever way you look at it Gnr T Whelan was getting his fair share of the action.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11 WWI Encyclopaedia
29th Nov 1916 To 29th Mar 1917	Gnr Whelan had safely negotiated his first tour of duty on the Western Front and was again serving in various Res. Bdes and Depot units in England.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11
30th Mar 1917 To 7th May 1918	Gunner T Whelan was again posted to France (The Western Front) and was initially posted to the 4th Division Ammunition Column one day later he was posted to the 128th Bty of the 29th Bde R.F.A. This was to be Thomas’s last active service unit. During his time with The 4th Division it was involved in the following battles and actions among others. The Arras Offensive 9th Apr - 15th May 1917 The Battle of 1st Scarpe. 1st Phase of above. 9th Apr – 14th Apr 1917 The Battle of 3rd Scarpe. 3rd Phase of above. 3rd May – 4th May 1917 The Division was also involved in the capture of Fresnoy. The 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendale) 7th Jun 10th Nov. The Battle of Polygon Wood. 4th Phase of above. 26th Sept – 3rd Oct 1917. The Battle of Broodseinde. 5th Phase of above. 3rd Oct 1917. The Battle of Poelcapelle. 6th Phase of above. 9th Oct 1917. The 1st Battle of Passchendale. 7th Phase of above. 12th Oct 1917. The German Spring Offensive (Der Kaiserschlact) The Battle of Hazebrook. 3rd Phase of Lys. 12th Apr – 15th Apr 1918. The Battle of Bethune. 6th Phase of Lys. 18th Apr 1918. Again we can see, Thomas was having a very eventful time on The Western Front although we don’t know exactly what his Battery was up to, it is clear from the Divisions workload that he would have been very busy indeed. It was about this time that Gnr – Bdr Whelan had his 4th and 5th brush with military law. On the 4th Mar 1917 he was charged for being absent from the 8:50 am parade was found guilty and fined one days pay. On the 2nd -- 1917 now a Bombardier (Corporal) he was charged with Dissent and Disobedience of Orders found guilty and reduced to his permanent rank of Gunner (demoted). This was very serious and had he been a Gunner he may have wound up with a long spell of No 1 Field Punishment (torture) being tied to a Gun Wheel for 8/10 hours a day on restricted diet. Thomas had been promoted to Acting Bombardier on 8th Apr 1917 reverted to Gunner on the 28th Jul 1917, appointed PD L/ Bdr (Lance / Corporal) 24th Aug 1917 and again promoted Bombardier on the 14th Oct 1917. On or about the 28th Apr 1918 while operating in the Bruay area at or around the village of L’Eceme and while involved in offensive operations Bdr T Whelan was seriously wounded. Looking at the War Diaries for April we can note, that at the time he received his injury the Battery was laying down harassing fire on the German positions. He was more than likely the victim of retaliatory fire from the Germans. The wound to his left leg was severe and on the 28th Apr 1918 he was admitted to The St Johns Ambulance Brigade Hospital at Etaples, France. Where his left leg was amputated at the thigh.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11 WWI Encyclopaedia WO363/W1547 Pt III-Pages 15, 15A WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 11 WO95/1466 War Diaries WO363/W1547 Pt III-Page 3
8th May 1918 To 8th May 1919	Evacuated to England and taken to The Military Hospital Edmonton Middlesex. The Hospital was built in 1842 by the Edmonton Board of Guardians as the Edmonton Union Workhouse. Taken over by the military in 1915 and turned into a Special Military Surgical Hospital. It was here that Thomas would have spent long months recovering and learning to walk again on his new leg.	WO363/W1547 Pt III-Pages 3,21 Enfield Council.
8th May 1919	Thomas was classified as having a 60 % disablement. He was discharged from the Army and returned to Dungarvan with a new leg and 30/- (30 Shillings) a week Pension. Awards The 1914 – 15 Star. The War Medal. The Victory Medal. Thomas was also awarded The Silver War Badge.	PRO374/72684