Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. WHITE, 102 Cowles Road, Mosman, New South Wales.

Contracted typhoid and meningitis, and died at Albany Hospital, 12 November 1914.

Death of Les White.
Seven days ago it was announced that Trooper Les White, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. G. White, of Byron-street, was seriously ill, suffering from typhoid fever and meningitis. Yesterday quite a gloom wan cast over the town by the news of his death at Albany. His father and mother were on their way to him, but they have been wired not to proceed further. An  urgent wire has been despatched to the Military Authorities for permission to have the body brought back to Inverell, but no reply has been received up to mid-day. Prior to his  volunteering to proceed to Europe with the Light Horse in the First Expeditionary Force, he was senior clerk in the Municipal Office, and was only about 20 years of age. He was  greatly esteemed by all the muncipal employees and by the people of the town. His Worship the Mayor and the Town Clerk both assure us that they always looked to a brilliant career for the young soldier. The grief-stricken father and mother have the heart-felt sympathy of the whole of the people of Inverell and district, where they are highly respected.

The Albany "Advertiser" in a sympathetic obituary notice of the late Trooper Les White, of Inverell, says : "The remains worn interred with full military honors, up to 200 officers  and men of the local and visiting forces bring present. The cortege moved off from the hospital shortly after 3 o'clock the order of the parade being: Firing party, drawn from the R.A.A.; Albany Band; gun carriage bearing the coffin drawn by a party of naval cadets; members of naval cadets; gunners of the A.G.A. and R.A.A. 85th Infantry, non-commissioned officers of R.A.A. and A.G.A. ; officers of R.A.A. and 85th Infantry Brigade. Many sympathetic citizens were present in church and the Rev. Henry Freeman delivered  a moving address on "The glory of young men in their strength." The band played "Lead, Kindly Light" and the large congregation joined in singing the hymn. The procession was  reformed and proceeded to the Presbyterian cemetery, where the final rites were performed, the usual salute being fired and the "Last Post' sounded. The ceremony was most impressive, and as the strains of the "Dead March" pealed forth sadness filled every heart. The thorough- fares were lined with residents while at the cemetery fully 1,500 assembled to pay their last respects to the brave young soldier."

In the Probate Court an interesting point arose affecting the validity of a document purporting to be the will of a soldier who died at Albany. On the application to administer the  estate of the soldier in question, Leslie White, late of Inverell, a member of the First Light Horse. Before leaving Inverell, he willed his estate, valued at £303, to his mother, but  neglected to name the ex\ecutor. His Honor refused the application on the ground that deceased was not a soldier on active military service within the meaning of the Act when the deed was executed.