John Whincup

Driver John Whincup

5th Divisional Motor Transport Company, AIF

Service Number: 13336

Born: 1890, Bradford, Yorkshire England

Died: 7 November 1918, Dury-Le-Amiens, France

John (Jack) Whincup was born in Bradford, Yorkshire England in 1890, the son of Thomas and Hannah Whincup. In 1911, he was living with his parents and family in Bradford, working as a chemist. When Whincup immigrated to Australia in 1912, arriving on the Orama, he stated he was a labourer. Soon afterwards, he worked as an instructor in a motor school in Sydney. In April 1915, Whincup moved to Mulgoa and went into partnership with William Parker in Parker’s Motor Car Company, running a taxi service between Penrith, Mulgoa and Wallacia. In competition with Bale’s service, they often found themselves in court breaching traffic and government regulations. When Whincup enlisted, William and Matilda Parker’s daughter Lily, at 19 years old, stepped in and took his place until he returned from active service. She gained some fame for her driving and mechanical ability and during the Second World War, worked as a driver at the St Marys Munitions Factory.

Whincup enlisted on 25 September 1916 and was allocated to the 2nd Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company. He embarked at Melbourne for the war aboard HMAT Persic on 22 December and disembarked at Devonport England on 3 March 1917. After a period of training in England, Whincup proceeded overseas to France on 20 June 1917 and on 12 March 1918 was transferred from the 5th Divisional Supply Column to the 5th Divisional Motor Transport Company. In May 1918, Whincup was charged with contravening the speed limit and forfeited two days’ pay. From 8-24 September, he took leave in England and presumably visited his family in Bradford before returning to his unit at the Front.

Whincup was admitted to the 41st Stationary Hospital on 31 October 1918 with influenza which developed into bronchial pneumonia. On 4 November 1918, he was placed on the dangerously ill list. He died on 7 November 1918 and was buried in the Hospice Military Cemetery at Dury-le-Amiens. In his will, he left his share in Parker’s Motor Car Company to Lily Parker (later Lily Seawert).

Memorial Details:

  • Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, France
  • Honor Roll, St Thomas’ Anglican Church, Mulgoa

Sources: