| Regimental number | 3894 |
| Place of birth | Leongatha, Victoria |
| School | Mt Eccles and Korumburra State Schools, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Address | Kardella Road, Korumburra, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 18 |
| Next of kin | Father, J F Phelan, Kardella Road, Korumburra, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Served in Junior Cadets (2 years) and Senior Cadets (2 years), Area 44. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 8th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on |
| Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll) | Name does not appear on Nominal Roll |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 19 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 17), Australian Cemetery, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 168 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Elizabeth PHELAN, Eaglehawk, Victoria. Native of Mount Eccles, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Taken on strength, 59th Bn, Ferry Post, 3 April 1916. Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 9 April 1916 (pyrexia), and transferred same day to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station (influenza); discharged to duty, 13 April 1916. Found guilty, Duntroon Plateau, 10 May 1916, of being absent without leave from 0800 to 0915, 7 May: awarded 6 hours' pack drill and 1 week's fatigue. Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, Ferry Post, 26 May 1916 (sore throat), and transferred same day to 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station (parotitis); discharged to and rejoined unit, 29 May 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Handwritten note on Form B103: 'Presume to be Buried In No Man's Land approx 5J90 43 to 5K02.5.1 Sheet Hazebrouck 5A'. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, PHELAN John Francis |