Michael Whelan was born at Hayestown, Piercestown in 1876, the son of John Whelan, a labourer and Bess Carroll. His service record was among those destroyed during the blitz in London in 1940 but he appears to have been a career soldier, joining the Royal Irish Regiment sometime after 1901. In 1911 he was serving in India. His niece, Mollie Whelan Murphy remembered him coming home on leave shortly before the outbreak of World War 1 to visit his fiancée whom he hoped to marry on his next home leave. His regiment deployed to France on August 13, 1914, departing Southampton and landing at Boulogne. After several gruelling military engagements, he was killed in action during the battle of La Bassée on October 19, 1914. His body was never recovered but his name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial in the Pas de Calais region of northern France. Coincidentally, another Michael Whelan, also in the Royal Irish Regiment and also from County Wexford (New Ross), was killed on the same day. Both Michael Whelans’ names appear beside each other on the Le Touret monument.
Photo of Michael Whelan in uniform; photos of Le Touret cemetery; photo inscription on memorial plaque;

Photograph
Michael Whelan
Michael Whelan, Royal Irish Regiment
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Le Touret Military Cemetery
Both Michael Whelans remembered at Le Touret