Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry Lawson Whitehead was a soldier who had served in World War 1 in both the 10th Battalion and the Australia Provost Corps. Born in 1877 in England, Preston to parents Betsy and William Whitehead, Whitehead migrated to Australia, where he worked as a commercial traveller. When he enlisted, he was married to Harriett Whitehead, and his physical appearance was described as a height of 5 ft 4 and a ¼ with brown hair, fair skin, grey eyes and 9 scars. 

The beginning of Whitehead’s journey began in Keswick, Adelaide, where he enlisted in the Australia Imperial Force (AIF) on the 3rd of February,1915. After being placed in the 10th infantry battalion, Whitehead underwent basic training before soon being relocated overseas for further training in Egypt. Originally, the AIF men were supposed to receive training in England, but military camps became overcrowded and were on the verge of equipment and supply shortages. The living conditions in Egypt were harsh, and only 8500 troops were given tents. The remaining troops had to reside in improvised shelters until more tents were imported from England. The soldiers were worked harshly, often training 8 hours a day for 6 days a week. They were to carry their own heavy backpacks and wear full kits, causing many to suffer from heatstroke and pneumonia from the physical strain placed on their bodies.

After their training period was completed, the 10th Battalion was sent to Gallipoli, with the majority of troops arriving on the 8th of July. 

The conditions at Gallipoli were unbearable, as the sea of dead bodies attracted flies and many other bugs and parasites, which could have been a reason as to how Whitehead contracted dysentery. On September 11th, 1915, he was admitted to the Australian Casualty Clearing station at Gallipoli, and then was transferred on the HS Formosa to the No.1 Auxiliary Hospital in Cairo diagnosed with Diarrhoea and Dysentry where he would receive further treatment.

After recuperating for a month, Whitehead rejoined his unit from the hospital, where he was then sent to an overseas base. His role in the army changed on the 3rd of April 1916 when he took on strength at the ANZAC provost corps in Abbrassia, Egypt. The ANZAC provost corps were made up of soldiers who had previously fought in battles against the enemy. They were responsible for maintaining discipline at training camps and running the military detention centres. Whitehead’s new duties took him away from physically fighting alongside his comrades, but his service was just as necessary to the overall outcome of the war. As a newly appointed corporal in the provost corps, Whitehead was responsible for keeping a section of soldiers at Moascar Training Camp in line, enforcing discipline when necessary.

In October 1916 he was relocated overseas to Tidworth, England, marching into the headquarters of the AIF. He stayed here for two years until early 1918, travelling overseas to France. On the 24th of January 1918, Whitehead marched into the Australian General Base Depot in Havre, France, taking on the strength of the Armed Forces Pacific Corps. After being detached for duty with the 3rd Australian Division, he left France for the UK, where he marched into Tidworth, England again. On the 23rd of February, he was attached for duty at a detention centre in Lewes and stayed there through Christmas. He was granted a three-day Christmas leave and an 8-day staff leave from 24/12/20 to 4/1/21. After working there for another 10 months, he left Lewes for London, where he would be sent back to Australia in June of 1922. His duties were finally over, and he travelled to Melbourne and then Hobart before being discharged from the AIF in Hobart on the 28th of October 1922.

He died 21st December 1935 and is buried at West Terrace Cemetery, Adelaide