Three: Captain J. Whelan, Royal Garrison Artillery

British War and Victory Medals (Capt. J. Whelan.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (9698 C.S. Mjr: J. Whelan. R.G.A.) mounted as worn, nearly extremely fine (3) £80-£100

James Whelan was born on 25 May 1877 and attested for the Royal Garrison Artillery, serving in the ranks for 19 years and 252 days, and being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal per Army Order 49 of 1913. Appointed to a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant on 12 January 1915, he was promoted Lieutenant on 10 April 1916, and served during the Great War with the 62nd Company, R.G.A. in Aden on coast defence duties from June 1916. He was promoted Captain on 3 November 1917 and, having attained the fixed compulsory retirement age, he was placed on retired pay on 25 May 1922.

A hand-written note accompanying the lot adds: ‘Captain Whelan was involved in fighting a fire caused by a spontaneous explosion - He, along with others, entered the smouldering magazine and extinguished the fire, knowing full well that a further explosion might take place at any moment, from which there would be no escape. Whelan was ill afterwards due to breathing cordite fumes. He recuperated in Aden and was granted 2 months home leave. Also suffered broken leg when his horse bolted, slipped and fell on his leg. Both incidents are well documented.’

Sold with an array of original documents, including a copy of a typed letter to the O.C. Royal Artillery, Aden, confirming the explosion in a magazine at Fort Norbut, and the ‘gallant conduct’ of Captain J. Whelan, R.G.A.; A hand-written witness statement by the Doctor treating Captain Whelan, who noted ‘Patient was for two hours fighting a cordite fire’, dated 25.7.18, at Aden; Army Form A Furlough and Leave, confirming two months of leave at Kirkee, dated 26 July 1918; Army Form A.45B. Proceedings of a Medical Board, confirming fracture of the left femur in consequence of the horse bolting at Quetta on 13 October 1915, the latter document torn and extremely fragile.