British War Medal 1914-20 : Private Angus McSween Whitelaw, 24 Battalion AIF

British War Medal 1914-20. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

1792 Private Angus McSween Whitelaw was born in the Victorian town of Briagolong to Robert and Annie Whitelaw. In February 1915, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the AIF. Originally joining the 21st Battalion he was quickly transferred to the newly formed 24th Battalion. He served briefly with his battalion on Gallipoli before being evacuated due to illness. He would not re-join his unit in France until August of 1916. Three weeks later he was killed in action at Mouquet Farm, on 25 August. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

Private Whitelaw was one of six Whitelaw brothers who enlisted in the AIF. Two of his brothers were also killed during the war: Corporal Ivan Cecil Whitelaw MM, killed on 23 April 1918 and Sergeant Robert Angus Whitelaw, killed on 3 May 1917. A fourth brother, Private Kenneth Whitelaw, was invalided home after a gunshot wound to the chest but died of his wound in 1922. Private Lionel Whitelaw and Sergeant Donald John Whitelaw survived the war.