Vest light : Lieutenant Colonel C B B White, Chief of Staff, AIF

This leatherette battery-operated vest light has chrome-plated metal end caps, a walleye lens and a push-button operating switch. The initials 'C.B.B.W.' and a year [illegible] are stamped in gold lettering on one side. Glued to the casing is a white paper label upon which is handwritten in black ink, 'BRUDENELL'S OLD LAMP GIVEN BY [illegible] DUDLEY - USED IN EGYPT, GALLIPOLI AND FRANCE'. On the base end cap is the maker's mark with the words, 'EVERREADY [sic] ELECTRIC SPECIALTIES'.

Vest light carried by Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Brudenell Bingham White throughout the First World War. This light was probably a gift from his brother Dudley Persse White, who also served in the First World War. 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.