WHELAN, John. PM. WW1. CWGC.
Died 21/05/1916 Age 20. Private, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 2nd/5th Bn. Service Number 5220. Son of William and Maria Whelan, of Leylands, Kedleston Rd., Derby.
John WHELAN was born in the autumn of 1895 in Quarndon, Duffield, Derbyshire. His parents were William Whelan, a groom from Ireland, and Maria Whelan (nee Slevin), also from Ireland, who married in the spring of 1890 in Coventry, with his name being incorrectly recorded on the marriage as William Whelin, and where their first son William Whelan was born in 1891.
By the 1901 Census the family were living in Quarndon Village, Derbyshire. Together with his parents William and Maria Whelan were John and four siblings. The family were not found in the 1911 Census.
In February 1912 John WHELAN, aged 16, was appointed by the Post Office as an Assistant Postman in Derby, and in December 1913 he was promoted to Postman (Rural) in Derby.
John WHELAN enlisted at Derby on 9 December 1915 with the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) giving has address as Abbotts Hill, Babbington Lane, Derby.
John WHELAN was hospitalised on 15th May 1916 at the Fever Hospital, Cork Street in Dublin suffering from Scarletina (Scarlet Fever), where he was also diagnosed with Measles and went on to suffer from heart failure and became delirious. His death on 21st May 1916 was ascribed to hyperperflexia (overactive or overresponsive bodily reflexes). His length of service of under six months was too short for the grant of a War Gratuity payment.
John WHELAN is commemorated on the World War 1 Memorial to Post Office staff in the Post Office, Babbington Lane, Derby, close to where he was living when he enlisted. John WHELAN is also commemorated on the World War 1 Memorial in St Mary's RC Church, Bridge Gate, Derby.
The 1921 Census shows both of his parents, and two unmarried sons, living at Babbington Lane, Derby.
Sources: Census of 1901 and 1921. Registers of Births, Marriages and Deaths. Post Office Staff Records. Military Attestation and Medical Record, and Register of Soldiers’ Effects. Newspaper articles and announcements.
