SHEEHAN, William Thomas VETERAN

Name – SHEEHAN, William Thomas VETERAN
Born – 14/07/1872
Died – 10/08/1943
Location – No 13 Presbyterian Section
Mother – Elizabeth Templeton
Father – Thomas Sheehan

Notes – William Thomas was born to Elizabeth (nee Templeton) and Thomas Sheehan in 1872 in Victoria. His early life in Victoria was dominated by sports, where he was a professional athlete riding bycycles and also foot racing.

He was obviously still a fit sort of a fellow in his later years because when he was 50 years old, in 1922, he won a foot race in Meandarra. Good work William.

In 1901 William enlisted into the Boer War, Service number 257. He was made a Corporal by the Commander in Chief at Orange River on 23.2.1901. He re-enlisted with a service number 509 where he was a highly respected member of Captain Dallimores troop where he was rewarded with two medals.

He married Bessie Sutton O’Connor on the 27th December 1907. They had three children – William, Mervyn and Betty. The childrens occupations are listed in the newpaper obituary.

William came to Queensland early in the 1900s, where he was well known as a shearer, working at Cunnamulla and St George and Longreach. His census records included he and Bessie being at Sutton Grange, Brigalow Creek then renamed Meandarra from 1909 to 1943. It was here that he became a AWU member.

In 1925 he placed an add in the Dalby Paper to state that he would not be held responsible for anyone booking up debts in his name without his prior consent. So he was obviously a intelligent man who didn not like to be taken advantage of.

William Thomas and his wife Bessie have a shared grave with no headstone.

Newspaper Article – Obituary 1 and Obituary 2

War Service File – SHEEHAN, William Thomas.

Learn more about the Tara Cemetery here.