Four Royal Australian Artillery Buttons : Lieutenant C B B White, Royal Australian Artillery

Place Oceania: Australia
Accession Number REL32566
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Button
Physical description Brass
Maker Jennens & Co
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made c 1902
Conflict Period 1900-1909
Description

Four brass Royal Australian Artillery buttons featuring the artillery insignia of a cannon and rammer pointing to the left, surmounted by a King's crown. The reverse has a shank around which is impressed 'JENNENS & CO LONDON'

History / Summary

Associated with the service of Cyril Brudenell Bingham White. White was born at St Arnaud, Victoria, in 1876, but spent his early life in Queensland. He joined the Militia in 1896 and in 1899 successfully sat an examination to join the permanent forces, becoming a lieutenant in the Queensland Regiment of Royal Australian Artillery. He served with the 1st Commonwealth Horse during the Boer War and engaged in minor operations in the western Transvaal and Bechuanaland. After returning to Australia he served with the Victorian Permanent Artillery. In January 1904 White was appointed aide-de-camp to Major General Sir Edward Hutton, commander of the Australian Military Forces. In November 1905 he married Ethel Davidson. He was nominated by Hutton to attend the British Army Staff College, Camberley, in 1906, and graduated with good results. After several years in England attached to the British War Office, White was recalled to Australia as a major and became director of military operations at Army Headquarters. In July 1914 he was made acting chief of the General Staff (CGS). At the outbreak of war in 1914 he was selected by Major General Sir William Bridges to be chief of staff for the new Australian Imperial Force, and took part in the landing at Gallipoli in April 1915. After the death of Bridges in May, he became chief of staff to the new commander, Lieutenant General Sir William Birdwood. Promoted brigadier general in October, White was largely responsible for planning the successful evacuation of Anzac in December. Serving on the Western Front for the remainder of the war, he exerted great influence in his role as staff officer to Birdwood. He was suggested as a suitable leader for the Australian Corps when it was formed in 1918, but remained with Birdwood, becoming senior staff officer to the 5th Army. He became CGS on 1 June 1920. Disappointed with cuts made to the Australian military after the war, he retired as CGS in 1923, to take up civil appointments. In March 1940, after the outbreak of the Second World War, White was recalled as CGS, but only served for a short time in the role before he was killed in an aircraft crash near Canberra airport on 13 August.