The AIF Project

War service: Western Front

Embarked Sydney, 24 August 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 11 October 1916.

Found guilty, Codford, 25 October 1916, of being absent without leave from 2400, 23 October, to 0830, 24 October 1916: awarded 10 days' confined to barracks, and forfeited 1 day's pay under Royal Warrant.

Proceeded overseas to France, 21 November 1916.

Promoted Corporal, 19 February 1917.

Killed in action, 7 June 1917.

Handwritten notation on Form B103: 'Buried Toronto Avenue Cemetery. 1.5 Mls S. of Messines.'

Statement, Red Cross File No 2930411, 134 Sergeant V.P. MELVAINE, A Company, 33rd Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 8 November 1918: 'He was killed by a shell with 2 others which also killed 2 more. I was only a hundred yards away at the time. This was at Messines on the first or early on the second day of the attack. He would be buried either at Dead Horse Corner in Ploegsteert Wood or by the road in a small cemetery on the edge of the Wood.'

Second statement, 2596 Corporal J. MATHISON, 33rd Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 30 November 1917: On 7th June 1917 at Messines I was alongside him in the trenches. Fritz was shelling us very severely. I called to Whitehill about 11 a.m. and he said he was right. On the 8th I again spoke to him about 11 a.m. when we all "stood to" for a counter attack expected but which did not come off. I was wounded at 4.30 and when crawling back found Cpl. Whitehill and Cpl. Shepperd about 7/30 lying dead in the trench. He was quite dead and must have died from concussion. I heard that he was buried near Ploegsteert Wood Cemetery.'

Third statement, 248 Pte P.D. HEALEY, A Company, 33rd Bn (patient, No 4 Australian General Hospital, Randwick), 30 September 1918: 'Informant states that they both belonged to A Company No. 3 Platoon. On 7/6/17 the Battalion was in action at Messines. they hopped over about 3 a.m. During the afternoon after Messines had been captured and the Battalion was digging in Whitehill and two other Corporals were intantly killed by the same shell. Informant was one of the party and was only aout 10 yrds. away. He saw Whitehill fall. They were carried away in Informant's presence and he believes that they were buried in Ploeggstret (sic) Wood.'

Fourth statement, 5015 Pte M. DOYLE, A Company, 33rd Bn, 6 March 1919: 'On 7/6/17 the Battalion was in action at Messines. Informant saw Whitehill before the hop-over, but not afterwards, but was told that he had been killed outright during the advance. He was buried at Ploegsteert Wood with about 30 others and Informant saw the grave a couple of months afterwards, it had been done up and a cross with his name etc., thereon placed in position.'