Dedicated to Reg.#6028, Constable Patrick John Whelan  ·  K.I.A.  ·  WWI  ·  R. I. P. Dédié à Matr.#6028, Gendarme Patrick John Whelan  ·  TAG  ·  Première Guerre mondiale  ·  R. I. P.

The men who volunteered for service in the First World War answered a profound call to duty, driven by a deep sense of obligation to God, country, and the British Empire. Many enlisted knowing full well they might never return home, that they might never experience the joys of a long life, raise a family, or enjoy the peace and prosperity of their Canadian homeland—yet they went forward nonetheless, young in spirit, willing to sacrifice everything for a cause greater than themselves.

Patrick John Whelan was born in Placentia, Newfoundland on December 5th, 1892. He joined the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) on September 14th, 1915, and was posted to ‘Depot’ Division in Regina for Basic Recruit Training. After a few months, he was transferred to Calgary. There must have been a huge recruiting demand for soldiers for WWI as Whelan took his discharge from Calgary with less than one full year of police service.

Unfortunately, Whelan’s RCMP Service Files were destroyed years ago, leaving only fragmentary details about this period of his life. What little is known about him comes primarily from his military Attestation Papers and War Service documentation.

Whelan joined the 50th Battalion (Calgary), CEF (Canadian Expeditionary Force), a distinguished infantry unit during the First World War. According to his Attestation Papers he was single. He was subsequently transferred to the 80th Battalion, where he served under Service Number 435680. The 80th Battalion was recruited throughout Eastern Ontario, drawing men from Kingston, Ottawa, Belleville, and surrounding communities, before mobilizing at Barriefield, Ontario.

The 80th Battalion embarked for Great Britain on May 22, 1916 aboard the troopship Baltic with 35 Officers and 1,041 other ranks. The men disembarked in the UK on May 31st. The Battalion served a crucial role as a Reinforcement Unit for the Canadian Corps fighting on the Western Front. Rather than serving as an intact battalion in combat, the 80th provided trained soldiers to replenish casualties in frontline units. The battalion was eventually absorbed into the 51st Battalion and subsequently other reserve units as part of the ongoing reorganization of Canadian Forces during the war.

On the war front, Whelan faced the constant dangers that defined trench warfare—artillery barrages, sniper fire, gas attacks, and the brutal close-quarters combat that claimed thousands of Canadian lives. He was wounded in the thigh, hand and suffered a sprained back, yet demonstrated such courage and leadership that he was promoted to Sergeant.

On December 2nd, 1916, Whelan was admitted to the No. 1 Canadian General Hospital in Étaples, France. After his release he was sent back to join his unit. On February 17th, 1917, he was slightly wounded again. After one day, he was released to convalesce on light duties. Once again, he reunited with his unit. He was killed in action on April 25th, 1917.

Whelan’s mother and father were identified as his next of kin. They were eventually awarded his three medals: the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. The British War Medal (BWM) is a campaign medal awarded to officers and other ranks of the British and Imperial forces for service in the First World War. It was authorized in July 1919 and awarded for service between August 5, 1914, and November 11, 1918. The medal was given to personnel who served overseas or entered a theatre of war during the specified period.

Sergeant Patrick John Whelan was buried in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois, France. He was 23 years of age.

Lest We Forget.