Victor Whelan

South Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC) now Albert Park South Melbourne Rowing Club (VIC)

Victor Harold Whelan was born in South Melbourne. He had joined the South Melbourne club by the 1913-14 season, but has no recorded wins.

Victor was a greengrocer who lived in Seddon when he enlisted on 15th July, 1915 as a private, aged 22.

He was sent to the 24th Battalion and arrived in Egypt in February, 1916 where he was immediately admitted to hospital for appendicitis. Victor was frequently ill for the next three months and was transferred to the 60th Battalion in May.

His unit was moved to France in June, and he first saw action at the Battle of Fromelles on 19th July. Victor went missing in action that day, and has no known grave.

He is remembered at the VC Corner, Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France.

Grace Blake
July 2021

Sources:

http://www.apsmrc.com/Honour-Rolls
The Victorian Oarsman by John Lang, Massina & Co, 1919

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The idea for this history originated from the Olympic Rowing and World Senior Rowing Championship histories written by Andrew Guerin and Margot Foster in 1991, 1992 & 1993 for the Australian team handbooks. Andrew Guerin developed and extended these histories to the current format in 2004 for publication in 2004 and then expanded the site.

Steve Roll has been an invaluable contributor to the website in locating errors and finding Christian names of rowers. His superb work is acknowledged.

© Andrew Guerin – 2004
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