White, Harold Stephen (Major, b.1891 - d.1941)

Collection relating to the First World War and Second World War service of NX476 (144) Major Harold Stephen White, 1 Pioneer Battalion and 2/1 Pioneer Battalion, France, Belgium, India, 1914-1941.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of two folders of material relating to Major Harold Stephen White.

Folder 1 of 2 contains correspondence from Harold White to his sister, Miss Freda White, written during his service in the First World War with 1 Pioneer Battalion. In his letters to his sister, White writes of his embarkation on the troopship “Afric”, receiving letters and parcels from home, hearing news about mutual friends, the state of the war from his perspective, being involved in action against the Germans, travelling in India, completing instructional courses, the Indian climate, being in hospital with malaria, losing his luggage on the railway, going on holiday, and missing his wife. White also comments on news from home. This folder consists of:
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, at sea, Troopship “Afric”, 23 October 1914. Letter is written on reverse of “The Kangaroo” serial, vol. 1, no. 4.
1x Postcard from Harold White to Freda White, 14 May 1915.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, 20 February 1916, [includes envelope].
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, France, 28 April 1917.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, Belgium, 23 September 1917.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, Belgium, 17 October 1917.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, Sabathu, India, 23 June 1918.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, Roorkee, India, 24 July 1918.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, Roorkee, India, 4 October 1918.
1x Letter from Harold White to Freda White, Landi Khana, India, 27 February 1921.

Folder 2 of 2 contains photographic and miscellaneous material relating to Major Harold Stephen White. It consists of:
1x Copy of photograph of Harold White, [c 1914-1918], newspaper clipping on reverse
2x Photographic postcards depicting Harold White and fellows in Middle Eastern dress with tent in background, 17 June 1915. On the reverse of the postcards, White writes about a recent operation.
1x Obituary of Major Harold White.

Harold Stephen White enlisted to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 19 August 1914, and served with 1 Field Company Engineers and 1 Pioneer Battalion in the Middle East, France and Belgium. In February 1918, White was discharged from the AIF upon being granted a commission in the Indian Army. He served in the Indian Army as a captain, and later, major, and retired in July 1922. On 21 May 1940, Major White enlisted to the Second Australian Imperial Force. He was posted to 2/1 Pioneer Battalion, and served in the Middle East. Major White died of wounds in Egypt on 21 May 1940. He is buried at Tobruk War Cemetery, Libya.

• Wallet 1 of 1 - Letters from Harold Stephen White to his sister Freda White and other material, 1914-1941