Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bert White enlisted to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 30th of June 1915. He was born in Elham, England, and while in Australia serving with the British Navy he deserted in 1911 travelling from Western Australia to Adelaide. His mother, Mrs Newing, remained in Elham. In a letter sent after enlisting, he stated the reason for this being wanting to get married, but the navy did not allow him to earn enough money and he did not get on with his Petty Officier. His desertion, however, came at a substantial risk.

As per section IV of the Naval Discipline Act 1860, desertion from the British Navy could lead to execution. Certainly, this was seen with deserters who were caught at the time, and 306 British soldiers faced death after deserting during World War One. With this move, Bert White sacrificed everything he owned. If caught, a soldier would ‘forfeit all Pay, Head Money, Bounty, Salvage, Prize Money, and Allowances that have been earned by him, and all Annuities, Pensions, Gratuities, Medals, and Decorations that may have been granted to him’. The punishments were later made less severe, and nowadays a deserter receives around two years in prison.

His address was 44 Esmond Street, Hyde Park, South Australia and his wife, Bertha White, moved to 50 Ethel Street, Forestville in 1917. His stated religion was Wesleyan, a branch of Christianity. 25 years and 11 months old standing at 5”6½’, 166lbs, brown hair and blue eyes. Previous military service would have seen him well-adjusted to the structure of the AIF; he would have been accustomed to the chain of command, fighting and following orders.

White enlisted in June 1915 at Keswick, SA. He quickly received an approved certificate of medical examination, and was appointed to the 10th reinforcements of the 10th Battalion, which was comprised mostly of South Australian soldiers.

Private Bert White, service number 3190, embarked from Adelaide on HMAS Ballarat with the 10th Battalion, 10th reinforcements on the 14th of September 1915. He was moved from reinforcements to the main body of the 10th Battalion on the 25th of November, then disembarked in Alexandra, Egypt, which was used as a training ground for ANZACs on the 29th of December.

On the 29th of February 1916, he was taken on strength to the 50th battalion, part of the 13th brigade and formed mostly of South Australian soldiers. He disembarked the Arcadian at Marseilles, France a few months later, on the 12th of June.

In June of 1916, the 50th battalion arrived in France, first fighting in Somme, then being moved to Pozieres. The battle for Pozieres was one of the largest campaigns, with multiple targets including Pozieres village, Mouquet Farm and the Windmill. Lasting from late July to early September, the Australians sustained 23,000 casualties, 5000 of which were deaths.

Their first major battle resulted from engaging in the battle at Mouquet Farm, suffering large casualties. Bert White would have taken part in three major campaigns in 1916, and advancing to the front as Germans fell to the Hindenburg line in 1917.

On the 19th of September in 1916, he was granted a free pardon for deserting the British Navy. This came from glowing reports from his superiors from his work in the battlefield.

Exactly two months later, he proceeded to England to report to A.I.F headquarters and was admitted to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in England  three days later. The next day, the 23rd, he was declared “permanently unfit for general service”. The reason for this was a condition called pes planus, or flat feet, a condition from birth leading to arches in both feet being flattened. This condition often isn’t problematic until later in life, but can impair running ability, which would have been necessary in the army.

Bert White's superiors praised him on his performance during the war. His captain in the 50th battalion commented, “His conduct up to the present has been exemplary. Under shell fire he was cool and did favourable work. At present he is ‘Understudy Section Commander’ in one of my platoons.” This meant that he was a solid solder, and backup commander for around 20 men. These details would have undoubtedly been significant in the decision to allow a free pardon for a serious crime.

On 21/2/1918, he was returned to Australia on the ‘Balmoral Castle’. He sustained no significant injuries from the war, and returned home a free man. He was formally discharged from the AIF 8th April 1918.

Sources:

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/transport

https://vwma.org.au/explore/campaigns/1

https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=320696

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C175198

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/story/59192

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1846364

https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/6

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1860/123/part/I/crossheading/desertion-and-absence-without-leave/enacted

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/military-organisation/army-weapons