White, Alexander George
No.6842 – Private Alexander White – 11th Battalion AIF
Alexander George White was born in Adelaide South Australia on 16th August 1901 to Christopher and Emily White. He was one of nine siblings with his brothers Chris, Aubrey, Keith, George and Vernon. Alex and Chris were born in SA but the other brothers were born in Western Australia.
The family lived in Fremantle, at both High and Marmion Street’s. Alex was educated at Fremantle Boys School and after leaving school he took up work as a Printer. His brother Chris enlisted in the AIF in January 1916 when he was 18 years old. Alex was younger but still wanted to do his part.
He was only 15 years old but he went to the Francis Street Drill Hall on the 10th July 1916 and offered his services to the AIF. Alex stated that he was 20 years old at the time and the medical examiner found him to be 5 feet 8 & ½ inches tall; weight of 135lbs; chest measurement of 32-34 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England and his next of kin was his father Chris.
Upon his successful enlistment Alex was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.77 Training Depot. After a few weeks of basic infantry training on the 1st August 1916 he was transferred to the 8th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion. He served with this group for a month but on the 4th September he was moved into the 7th Reinforcements to the 51st Battalion. Alex was soon transferred again and he was finally attached to the 22nd Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion.
On the 9th November 1916 this group left Blackboy Hill and entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the HMAT Argyllshire in Fremantle Harbour. Once everyone was aboard, the ship set sail through Gage Roads for the long journey to England. The sea journey took just on two months as they arrived at Devonport Harbour on the 10th January 1917. During the voyage Alex had spent 11 days ill in the ship’s hospital but had recovered on reaching England.
After being disembarked the men were marched into the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Training was interrupted for Alex as on the 23rd February he reported ill with mumps and was sent to Parkhouse Military Hospital where he stayed until the 13th March. Despite all the training the men were given leave to see the sights of England and no doubt Alex would have explored London.
On the 6th April Alex got into trouble by not obeying an order and as a punishment was confined to barracks for two days. Ten days later on the 16th April Alex left the 3rd Training Battalion and went to No.2 Command Depot at Weymouth Camp. The next few weeks he was transferred between training depots, eventually returning to the 3rd Training Battalion on the 1st May. He would spend the next six weeks here but finally on the 14th June he was put in a draft of soldiers leaving camp and proceeded to Southampton. They then boarded a transport ship which took them across the Channel to France, where on his arrival Alex was marched into the 1st Australian Division Base Depot in Le Havre.
Alex would have a few weeks in this depot but on the 6th July 1917 he was taken on strength of the 11th Battalion AIF in France. The 11th Battalion were then enjoying a three month break out of the front line positions and much of their time was taken up with training and sporting activities. It was only in September that they returned to the front when they took part in the Third Battle of Ypres.
On the 20th September 1917 the 11th Battalion successfully took their objectives in the Battle of Menin Road and they saw further action around Polygon Wood, Broodseinde Ridge and Celtic Wood through October 1917. Alex came through all these actions unscathed and he remained with his unit as they served at Messines through the 1917/18 Belgian winter. On the 25th February 1918 Alex was granted leave to the UK, eventually returning to France on the 13th March.
On the 21st March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the 3rd & 5th British Armies. They were making a speedy advance towards Amiens, so the 3rd & 4th Australian Divisions were sent to the Somme to stop the advance. They were successful in doing this and were soon reinforced by the 2nd & 5th Division. Alex’s 1st Australian Division was still in Messines but in early April they also received their orders to proceed to Amiens.
However; as soon as they reached the city news came through that the Germans had launched another attack in the north, and so the 1st Division was returned north. They arrived in the Hazebrouck sector and with the assistance of British units; they brought the German advance to a halt. Over the next few months the 11th Battalion would see much action around the villages of Merris, Meteren and Strazeele.
On the 10th June 1918 Alex was sent to hospital suffering from scabies, and he would spend the next eight days on recovery before rejoining his unit. It wasn’t until late July 1918 that the 11th Battalion received their orders to proceed to Amiens to join the other Australian units. They were to be used in the upcoming advance from Amiens which was due to begin on August 8th. This advance was very successful with the Australian, British, Canadian and French troops breaking the German line. The 11th Battalion came forward to the front on August 9th and they were tasked with the capture of Lihons. On August 10th the 11th Battalion advanced on Lihons and into a devastating German machine gun barrage of fire. Men were cut down everywhere and 16 year old Alex was killed instantly by the fire.
The battle progressed and Lihons was captured, his mates giving Alex a battlefield burial. After the war Alex was reburied at Heath Cemetery Harbonnieres in plot VII.D.12.
His brother No.407 Private Chris White served with the 44th Battalion in WW1 and came through unscathed, returning home to Fremantle in 1919.