WHELAN, William Alfred

William Alfred WHELAN
Killed by Enemy Action on 18th February 1941
Aged 17

William Alfred Whelan was born on 25th January 1924 (Newmarket Q1-1924 3B:708) son of William and Elizabeth WHELAN (née COOPER). In the 1939 register William, a cinema operator, was at 12 Laureate Terrace, Exning Road with his parents, father William F [25-8-1896] assistant head lad to Frank Butters stables, and mother Elizabeth [22-6-1895]. Sister Sheila Mary [1925] is redacted He was a part time cinema operator and was killed at work at Hepworth's (tailors), High Street, Newmarket. Mr.Goult, the shop manager had been standing with Billy when the blast of the first bomb blew him through the floor into the cellar. He was taken to hospital and survived. The family later moved to Beckhampton where Bill senior worked for Jeremy Tree. His sister Sheila, 95 and living in Ireland, organised, through her son Bill Mclernon, and the Local History Society, a wreath for Billy junior's grave on the 80 annversary of the bombing on 16th February 2021. Willam with his sister Sheila grave refurbished 2020..... wreath placed on 80th anniversary of bombing William is buried in Newmarket Cemetery, Ref: NG K227 and is also commemorated on the Exning Road plaque, now kept in the Exning Road Working Mens Club click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details BACK