L/Cpl 308909 Patrick Whelan

• Age: 24
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Patrick Whelan was born on the 11th February 1893 in Liverpool and was the son of Patrick and Anastatia/Anastasia(nee Daly) Whelan who were married on the 8th June 1889 at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernard, Kingsley Rd, Toxteth. Patrick was of 291 Grafton St, father Thomas Whelan, whilst Anastasia was of 23 Hartington Rd, Toxteth, father Moses Daly. He was baptised on the 4th March 1893 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, High Park St, Dingle, his parents address was 1 Denton St. His sister Mary was born on the 21st May 1891 and was baptised 31st May 1891 also at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, parents Patrick and Anastatia (nee Daly).

The 1891 Census shows the parents at 1 Denton Street, Liverpool. Father Patrick is aged 40 (possibly 49), a general labourer born in Ireland, mother Anastatia is aged 50 and also born in Ireland.

Father Patrick died before the next census but no suitable death record can be found.

The 1901 Census shows the family boarding with the Nicholas family at 52 Harlow Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool.

Anastasia is a widow aged 36and employed as a charwoman and she has two children Patrick aged 8 and Mary aged 9.

The 1911 Census shows him living at 114 Beresford Road, Dingle, Liverpool.

Anastasia Whelan is the Head of the household, she is aged 45 born 1866 and her occupation is an office cleaner and born in Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland. Patrick is aged 18 born 1893 and occupation Messenger and Mary aged 19 born 1892 and occupation Café Kitchenmaid.    

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance-Corporal No 308909 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 24 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Passchendaele 31^st July 1917

17^th Battalion

He was killed in action on 31st July 1917 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.      

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Liverpool Echo 10th Sept 1917

WHELAN - Killed in action, aged 24, Patrick (Our Pat), dearly-loved and only son of Anastatia and the late Patrick Whelan and beloved brother of Mary Whelan, 11 Roache Street, Dingle, later of Beresford Road. (Eternal rest give unto him, Lord.)

WHELAN - In ever loving memory of Patrick (Pat) Whelan, killed in action July 31. Sadly missed by all at 5 Brenton Street.

He is also commemorated on the Florence Institute For Boys War Memorial, Toxteth.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Anastasia, 11 Roache St, Toxteth.

Mother Anastatia, dob 1st April 1862, and daughter Mary, dob 22nd May 1891, appear on the 1939 register at 12 Sunbridge St.

She died aged 81 in 1942 and was buried at Ford Cemetery.

We currently have no further information on Patrick Whelan, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.