Two Soldiers Who Made it Through the Torture

Why would he make such a treacherous journey?

A Runaway Soldier, Private Wheelan, has made an incredible journey with his regiment ‘The Tree Rats’ towards the Front Lines. He has taken the lives of those who have taken those of his comrades. As painful as it is, he has persevered and has become a soldier of great dignity. This is the story of his miraculous journey through mud and dirt, his one goal, the Front Lines. 

Private Wheelan, was shipped to Europe to fight in The Battle of Gallipoli with his regiment ‘The Tree Rats’. The hard days of digging trenches were soon over as they settled in for their first attack.

“The trenches were well built and on the whole quite clean.” Private Wheelan was quoted as saying. In the Battle of the Gallipoli, they lost their whole regiment.

“It's a war, we're fighting, it's a very important war, and in war lives will be lost.” Henry Shaw said as he explained about the tragedies they experienced. Wheelan was quoted as saying that he thought that what the German’s were doing was disgraceful and was glad that he was there to fight. The Battle of Gallipoli was one of the most extreme combats alongside The Battle of The Somme.

After Gallipoli, General Shaw and Wheelan were sent off to fight in The Battle of the Somme. After surviving the first major battle and wanting to go into another, they were both awarded medals of bravery.

“My motivation was my duty to king and country and to defend the British Empire from attack and aggression.” said Shaw, talking about his reason to apply. Wheelan had been a runaway in the actual search of his mother but when he reached Port Macquarie, he decided to sign up for the army. Later on, he confessed that part of the reason he left was so that he could forget all the terrible things that happened in his life. One of those reasons was that his little brother Eddie died suddenly on the 200 mile journey to Port Macquarie where he was supposed to see the ocean for the first time. Wheelan was soon reminded how he had always asked, “How blue is the sea Dan?” and he answered saying, “Bluer than the sky Eddie, bluer than the sky.”

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Men signing up for the army.

No Man’s Land as men went up top.

General Shaw and soldier Private Wheelan are currently off fighting in the Battle of the Somme. Our men have persevered through this war and have made it through successfully. Everything has a purpose and, although some have gone, we will become prosperous and not give up now, after all we have been through. We will not only grow, we will hope.

Reporter: Julianne Winkleton