207680 2nd Lt. George Whelan MC.British Army 2nd Btn. West Yorkshire Regiment from:London (d.16th Aug 1917) The late Lieut. George Whelan was killed in action on August 16th 1917. He was a good sportsman & took a great interest in boxing & cross country running: winning the lightweight championship of the regiment and also being the champion all round athlete whilst stationed in Colchester.
He went out to France at the commencement of the war (actually 5/11/1914) and quickly attained promotion to Regimental Sergeant Major. After a short period in that rank he was promoted to lieutenant and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. He won the 8th divisional cross country race, and on December 16th 1916 he was the winner of the 23rd Infantry Brigade cross country race. The Colonel & all ranks had a very high opinion of Lieut. Whelan's qualifications, both as a soldier and a sportsman. He was a native of London.
Extract of letter to his widow:
"All ranks speak with the greatest admiration of the gallant way in which your husband met his death. The battalion had made an attack, at first successful, but later we had to retire owing to the heavy German counter attack. Your husband carried on with four Lewis guns and kept them in action, covering the retirement of the battalion and inflicting heavy loss on the enemy, while he himself fell shot by enemy machine gun fire. No man could have died more gallantly than he did, giving his life for the regiment. Had he lived he would certainly have been recommended for the DSO. He was most popular in the regiment, who will feel his loss deeply."
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