Theodore Ernest Whitelaw

Service No 1846

Private

32^nd Battalion, 2^nd Reinforcement

Born 1883 England.

Son of George Baynes WHITELAW and Emma, of 6 Ormonde Terrace, Regent Park, London.

Occupation prior to enlistment Apiculturist. He was slightly lame, having suffered from Infantile Paralysis as a child.

Religion Church of England

Age 32 years

Enlisted 31 August 1915 at Adelaide, SA. The Unit embarked from Adelaide, SA, on board HMAT A30 Borda on 11 January 1916.

To Telelkeber, Alexandria; disembarked Marseilles 7 Jun 1916. Reported missing in action 8 August 1916 at Pozieres.

Eyewitness reports revealed that during a counter attack, he was shot through the head and died outright. Court of Enquiry 4 May 1917, deemed killed in action, verified list no. 349. Age at Death 33 years, 8th August 1916

Commemorated Serre Road Cemetery (Plot XXVII, Row D, Grave 8), France

Photograph on the Mount Pleasant Soldiers Memorial Hall Honor Board and listed on the Anglican Church.

Personal effects consisting of a handkerchief, cap comforter, a woollen scarf and tobacco were returned to his father.

The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser (SA : 1880 – 1954) Friday 3 September 1915 p 3 Article

Another Mount Pleasant recruit has been accepted for active service, Mr. Harry Whitelaw having joined the Army Medical Corps. Mr. Whitelaw is a native of Scotland, but is well-known in Mount Pleasant, as he spent a year bee-farming near the town, and his Mount Pleasant friends wish him the best of luck.

Header photo courtesy AWM