William ‘Bill’ Tehan

TEHAN, William ‘Bill’- – – – SPC 1908

DoB:- – 1884, Rochester, VIC

Father:- – John Tehan

Mother:- – Honora, nee O’Shea

After finishing at St Patrick’s College, William Tehan married Margaret Victoria Valli in 1913.

Service No:- 6900

Rank:- – Private

Unit:- – 19th Reinforcements, 23 Battalion

Bill Tehan enlisted on 1 September 1916. He was 32 years and 7 months old, a married man, whose occupation was a Farmer. He was five feet eight and three quarter inches tall, with a medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.

Private Tehan embarked at Melbourne aboard the Ascanius, on 11 May 1917. He marched in to the 6th Infantry Battalion at Rollestone, England, where he underwent further training. He was hospitalised while still in England, for treatment for a boil on his right buttock. He was discharged after four days, on 10 August 1917, to rejoin his unit.

Private Tehan proceeded overseas to France on 23 November 1917, where he was attached to the 23rd Battalion. He was granted leave to the UK for two weeks between 1 December and 15 December 1918. He returned to France where he served until March 1919. At this point, he was granted leave with pay and subs to attend the East Anglia Agricultural Institute at Chelmsford. He was there for three months, until June 1919.

The following month, on 2 July 1919, he returned to Australia aboard the Nestor.

Upon his return to Australia, Bill went back to Bendigo and at some point began working for the Railways. He and Margaret lived at 99 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, and had three children.

William Tehan died on 15 November 1954, aged 70 years. He was buried at the White Hills Cemetery, in Bendigo. Margaret lived until 1970, and was buried with her husband.