Maurice was born in Bacchus Marsh or Parwan, VIC on the 6^th of June 1884 to Stephen Whelan and Margaret McGrath⁽¹⁾.

Maurice was a farmer at Parwan, VIC when he enlisted in the AIF, 4^th Light Horse Regiment, C Company on the 19^th of August 1914, aged 30 - just two weeks after war was declared. He embarked aboard the HMAT A18 Wiltshire in October and disembarked in Egypt in December.

Some time between the 20^th and the 22^nd of May 1915 Maurice landed at Gallipoli. In August he received a gunshot wound to the knee - severe - and was eventually admitted to King George Hospital, England. He embarked for home aboard the Euripedes in June 1916, returning to Australia in August and was discharged from the AIF in October, at his own request. On the 21^st of July A PUBLIC WELCOME will be tendered⁽²⁾ at the Mechanics' Institute, Bacchus Marsh which he would probably have attended.

Maurice enlisted in the Australian Army in March 1942 - V367960 - and was discharged in December 1945 with the rank of Private with the 11^th Battalion, Volunteer Defence Corps.

Maurice died at Heidelberg, VIC in October 1961, aged 77.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour for pupils of Parwan State School, held by the RSL at Bacchus Marsh.

Notes

1. From the index of BDM for Maurice's death his mothers maiden name is given as Ryan.
2. The Melton Express 21 Jul 1917