John Whelan's Sign up papers were sent on 20th of June 1941 and were signed at his medical examination on 26the of June 1941 at Birmingham Medical Board No. 5. His actual date of enlistment is given as 3rd of Sep 1942 and length of service is duration. His occupation on enlistment was given as telephonist. He was assigned to the General Service Corps Primary Training Corps No 7 at Military Operations, Ossett, Yorkshire.
At Ossett, John had a dental examination on 10th Sep 1942 and was pronounced fit though 2 of his teeth are shown as missing, presumably in the incident when he fell off a tram. A Territorial Army Record of Service paper was also completed which gave his next of kin as his Mother, Margaret Whelan of 13 Gough Road, Birmingham 15 and detailed identification features – height 5ft 6 ¾", weight 112 lbs, eyes blue, hair light brown, chest measurement when fully expanded 34 ¼" with range of expansion 4”. Distinctive marks were a scar on left eyebrow and on the back of left hand.
On 1942-10-14, he was assigned to the Royal Corps of Signals at the rank of Private Signalman and was posted to 3 Survey Training Centre, Kirkheaton, Huddersfield. On 6th of January 1943 he is reported as passing Trade Test OWL (Operator Wireless and Line) GP E and mustered in that trade.
On 29th of Jan 1943, John was posted to 8 Corps Signals still in Huddersfield until 3rd of Feb 1943 when the Corps was posted to 9th Armoured Division Signals with location given only as Field.
On 10th of May 1943, he was reclassified as OWL B3 and posted to 47 Division Signals arriving with them on 15th May. At Parkhurst (which may have been on the Isle of Wight), he received a second dental examination on 22nd Nov 1943 and was again pronounced fit. This was followed by a move to 28th Armoured Brigade Signals at Morpeth on 1st of July 1944 before moving down south to Lackford on 8th of September 1944 with 39th Division Signals.
It had been 2 years and 60 days since he enlisted.
The adventure really began when John embarked for India on 2nd of November 1944 arriving at Bombay on 4th of December 1944 and was posted to Central Command Signals on 29th December 1944 as a Signalman until 7th of January 1945 when he was posted to 14 India Division Signals and based at Mhow India Command.
A promotion soon followed to the rank of Unpaid and Paid Acting Lance Corporal on 7th of August 1945 as U/A/L/CPL and P/A/L/CPL which then changed to Unpaid and Paid Acting Corporal U/A/CPL and P/A/CPL on 6th of September 1945.
On 15th of November 1945, he passed OWL B and was reclassified in that trade. Another change of rank followed on 2nd of October 1945 when John was made War Corporal (a rank given for the duration of hostilities) and then promoted to Unpaid and Paid Acting Lance Sergeant on 18th of December 1945. This role was abolished in April 1946 so John reverted to War Corporal while retaining the Acting ranks.
31st of March 1946-03-31 saw 14th Division Signals preparing for release. They embarked aboard HMT Orontes and left Bombay on 5th of July 1946 having spent 1 year and 257 days in India.
He was released to Z (T) Territorial Army Reserves on 2nd of Octiber 1946 having spent another 78 days in the service of the Army while travelling home. He was then eligible for recall up to the age of 45.
A Testimonial was written by Major F Heward on 3rd of June 1946giving Military Conduct as Exemplary and saying:-
Cpl Whelan has carried out some excellent work as a Wireless Operator and then as a Section NCO where his duties were largely administrative. He is very efficient and tactful in his dealings with others. He is strongly recommended to any position of trust.
