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John Whittle

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For the English soccer player named John Roger Whittle, see Roger Whittle.

John Woods Whittle

3 August 1882 – 2 March 1946 (aged 63)

John W. Whittle

Place of birth Huon Island, Tasmania, Australia

Place of death Glebe, New South Wales, Australia

Resting place Rookwood Cemetery

Allegiance Commonwealth of Australia

United Kingdom

Service/branch Australian Army

Royal Navy

Years of service 1899–1918

1921

1930

Rank Sergeant

Battles/wars Second Boer War

First World War

Western Front

Battle of the Somme

Battle of Pozières

Battle of Arras
Battle of Passchendaele

Spring Offensive

Awards Victoria Cross

Distinguished Conduct Medal

John Woods Whittle VC, DCM (3 August 1882 – 2 March 1946) was an
Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry
"in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British and
Commonwealth armed forces. Whittle was serving as a sergeant in the First
World War when he was decorated with the Victoria Cross following two
separate actions against German forces during their retreat to the
Hindenburg Line in 1917. In the latter action, he attacked a machine gun
crew, killing the group and seizing the gun.

Born in Tasmania, Whittle completed twelve months active service during the
Second Boer War, before returning to Australia and enlisting in the Royal
Navy where he served for five years as a stoker. Re-enlisting in the army, he
was posted to the Army Service Corps, artillery, and Tasmanian Rifle
Regiment prior to the outbreak of the First World War. Transferring to the
Australian Imperial Force in 1915, Whittle joined the 12th Battalion in Egypt
and embarked for the Western Front the following year. During an attack on
the village of La Barque, Whittle rushed a German trench and forced the men
from the position; he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal as a
result.

Wounded three times during the war, Whittle was the subject of two courts-
martial due to his unruly behaviour. In October 1918, he returned to Australia
at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Australia to assist in recruitment.
Discharged from the military in December 1918, he later moved to Sydney. In
1934, Whittle was presented with a Certificate of Merit after saving a
drowning boy. He died in 1946 at the age of 63.

Contents [hide]

1 Early life
2 First World War

2.1 Early war service

2.2 Victoria Cross

2.3 Later war service

3 Later life

4 Notes

5 References

6 External links

[edit] Early life

Whittle was born on 2 August 1882 at Huon Island, Tasmania, to Henry

Whittle, a labourer, and his wife Catherine (née Sullivan).[1] He grew up in
Hobart, and was living there when he enlisted as a private in the 4th
Tasmanian (2nd Imperial Bushman) Contingent during 1899, for service in
the Second Boer War.[2][3] The unit embarked for South Africa on 27 March
1901,[4] and arrived four weeks later. The contingent spent the following
twelve months on active duty, which included action at Cape Colony,[1]
before returning to Australia on 25 June 1902.[4]

Soon after his return to Australia, Whittle enlisted in the Royal Navy as a
stoker. He spent five years as a sailor, during which time he was attached to
various ships on the Australia Station,[4] including HMS Challenger and HMS
Pioneer. Discharged from the navy in 1907, Whittle joined the Australian
Army and was posted to the Army Service Corps; he was to serve in this
position for three and a half years.[2] During this time, Whittle married Emily
Margaret Roland in a Catholic ceremony at the archbishop's house, Hobart,
on 23 July 1909.[1]

Following his marriage, Whittle transferred briefly to the artillery, serving with
the 31st Battery, Australian Field Artillery. He was then posted to the
Tasmanian Rifle Regiment, and remained with this unit until the outbreak of
the First World War.[2]
[edit] First World War

[edit] Early war service

On 6 August 1915, Whittle transferred to the Australian Imperial Force in

order to see active service overseas during the war. Allotted as a
reinforcement to the 26th Battalion as a private, he embarked from
Melbourne on 27 October aboard HMAT Ulysses bound for Egypt.[5]
Appointed acting corporal soon after arrival,[1] he was reallocated to the
12th Battalion with the rank of private on 1 March 1916, following a period of
divisional reorganisation and expansion to the Australian forces which were
now stationed in Egypt.[2] Whittle was promoted to the substantive rank of
corporal two weeks later.[6]

Embarking for the Western Front, the 12th Battalion joined the British
Expeditionary Force upon arrival in France on 7 April 1916. Eight days later,
Whittle was promoted to lance sergeant.[6] Posted to the Fleurbaix sector of
France,[7] the 12th Battalion was engaged in minor operations until July.[8]
During this time, Whittle was wounded on 18 June,[1] suffering a gunshot
wound to his right arm. Initially admitted to the 3rd Field Ambulance, the
injury necessitated treatment in England and Whittle was transferred to the
1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield. He rejoined the 12th Battalion on 16
September following recuperation.[6]

Following its involvement at Pozières in July–September 1916, the 12th

Battalion moved to the Ypres sector in Belgium, where Whittle was promoted
to sergeant on 14 October.[4][8] In late November, Whittle was admitted to
hospital suffering from an illness; on 18 December, he rejoined his unit,[6]
which had returned to action on the Somme.[8]

During the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Whittle took part in the
12th Battalion's attack on the villages of La Barque and Ligny-Thilloy as a
member of Captain James Newland's A Company on 26–27 February 1917.[1]
At Bark Trench, a position on the north side of the centre of La Barque,[9] the
company encountered a German strongpoint and Newland was wounded.[4]
[10] Rallying his men, Whittle rushed the post and started bombing the
occupants with grenades. He then chased the Germans as they began to
retreat down the trench line, before they were forced from the position.[9]
For his efforts during the assault, Whittle was awarded the Distinguished
Conduct Medal, the recommendation of which cited his "... conspicuous
gallantry in the presence of the enemy".[10] The announcement of the award
was published in a supplement to the London Gazette on 26 April 1917.[11]

[edit] Victoria Cross

By early April 1917, three German-held outpost villages remained between

the area to the south of the I Anzac Corps position and the Hindenburg Line.
[12] An attack to capture the villages of Boursies, Demicourt and Hermies by
the 1st Australian Division was formulated to commence on 9 April, the day
the British offensive opened at Arras.[13] For his gallantry in two separate
actions during this engagement, Whittle was awarded the Victoria Cross.[14]

On 8 April, the 12th Battalion was tasked with the capture of the village of
Boursies.[12] The attack was to act as a feint in order to mislead the German
forces on the direction from which Hermies was to be assaulted. Whittle had
been placed in command of the left platoon in Newland's A Company for the
attack, which commenced at 03:00. Advancing, the company was subjected
to heavy machine gun fire from a derelict mill approximately 400 metres (440
yd) short of the village and began to suffer heavy casualties. Gathering a
party of men, Newland led a bombing attack which was able to dislodge the
Germans from the position and secure the area. Continuing their advance,
the company was able to reach its objectives,[13] where Whittle was placed
in command of a post just beyond the mill.[4]

Sergeant J. W. Whittle in France, 1916Throughout the day, the Australians

came under heavy shellfire from the Germans. At 22:00,[13] the German
forces launched a severe counter-attack against the mill under the cover of
an intense barrage of artillery and bombs.[14] Advancing down the main
road, they managed to enter the trench Whittle was holding.[12] Gathering
all available men, Whittle charged the Germans and was able to restabilise
the position. Newland arrived soon after, and the two men worked together
until the position was re-established.[4] The 12th Battalion was relieved on
10 April by the 11th Battalion, having succeeded in capturing Boursies at the
cost of 240 casualties, of which 70 were killed or missing.[15]

Following a four-day reprieve away from the frontline, the 12th Battalion
relieved the 9th Battalion at Lagnicourt on 14 April. Around dawn the
following day, the Germans launched a fierce counter-attack against the 1st
Australian Division's line.[16] Breaking through the Australian line, the
Germans forced back the 12th Battalion's D Company, which was to the left
of Newland's A Company.[4] Soon surrounded and under attack on three
sides,[17] Newland withdrew the company to a sunken road which had been
held by Captain Percy Cherry during the capture of the village three weeks
earlier, and lined the depleted company out in a defensive position on both
banks.[13] Establishing his platoon in position, Whittle noticed a group of
Germans moving a machine gun into position to enfilade the road. As the
gunners began to set up the weapon, Whittle, under heavy rifle fire, jumped
from the road and single-handedly rushed the crew. Using his bombs, he
succeeded in killing the entire group before collecting the gun and taking it
back to A Company's position.[14]

As reinforcements from the 9th Battalion began to arrive, Newland was able
to repulse a third attack by the Germans. Reorganising the 9th and 12th
Battalions, a combined counter-attack was able to be launched and the line
recaptured by approximately 11:00.[13] The 12th Battalion had suffered 125
casualties during the engagement, with 66 killed or missing.[17] Whittle and
Newland were both subsequently awarded a Victoria Cross for their actions
that day; the pair were the only two permanent members of the Australian
military to receive the decoration during the war.[13]

The full citation for Whittle's Victoria Cross appeared in a supplement to the
London Gazette on 8 June 1917, reading:[18]

War Office, 8th June, 1917.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of
the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, Non-commissioned
Officers and Men: —

No. 2902 Sjt. John Woods Whittle, Inf. Bn., Aus. Imp. Force.

For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on two occasions.

When in command of a platoon the enemy, under cover of an intense artillery
barrage, attacked the small trench he was holding. Owing to weight of
numbers the enemy succeeded in entering the trench, and it was owing to
Sjt. Whittle personally collecting all available men and charging the enemy
that the position was regained.

On a second occasion when the enemy broke through the left of our line Sjt.
Whittle's own splendid example was the means of keeping the men well in
hand. His platoon were suffering heavy casualties and the enemy
endeavoured to bring up a machine gun to enfilade the position. Grasping the
situation he rushed alone across the fire-swept ground and attacked the
hostile gun crew with bombs before the gun could be got into action.

He succeeded in killing the whole crew and in bringing back the machine gun
to our position.

[edit] Later war service

The group of ten Australian Victoria Cross recipients repatriated to Australia

to assist in recruitment pictured on HMAT Medic with three naval officers.
Whittle is in the centre of the back row.In late April 1917, Whittle spent three
days in a field hospital receiving treatment for psoriasis, before embarking for
England on attachment to a training battalion. Joining the unit on 6 May, he
once again underwent an eight-day furlough in a military hospital later in the
month.[6] During this time, Whittle attended an investiture ceremony in the
forecourt of Buckingham Palace on 21 July, where he was decorated by King
George V with his Victoria Cross and Distinguished Conduct Medal.[2]

Re-embarking for France on 25 August,[6] Whittle rejoined the 12th Battalion

which had subsequently moved to Belgium in preparation for another
offensive at Ypres.[8] On 1 October, he was the subject of a General Court
Martial in the field, charged with two offences committed on 27 September:
1. Drunkenness while on active service; 2. Conduct to the prejudice of good
order and Military Discipline while on active service, in that when the
commanding officer was addressing a parade he called out words to the
effect of: "But we are good soldiers though". He was found guilty of both
offences, and sentenced to be reduced to the rank of corporal. Following four
days detention during the trial, Whittle re-joined the 12th Battalion on 8
October.[6][19]

Sergeant John Whittle c.1918The 12th Battalion spent the next two months
engaged in minor operations in Belgium, before once again transferring to
the trenches in France during December.[20] During this time, Whittle was
re-promoted to the rank of sergeant.[19] With the commencement of the
German Spring Offensive of 1918, the 12th Battalion assisted in repulsing the
assault in the months of March and April.[8] While engaged in this operation,
Whittle was wounded on 19 March and admitted to a field hospital suffering
shrapnel wounds to his right hand. Recovering from the wound, he returned
to the 12th Battalion in April. Later that month, Whittle was charged with
conduct to the prejudice of good order and Military Discipline a second time
for mutilating his pay book; he was reprimanded by the battalion's
commanding officer as a result.[6]

In June, Whittle was posted to the 2nd Army Central School for a five-week
stint. Returning to the 12th Battalion in mid-July, Whittle was wounded in
action for the third time; suffering shrapnel wounds to his right elbow, he was
admitted to the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance on 25 July. Evacuated to
England, he was admitted to the Central Military Hospital, Eastbourne, before
transferring to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, two weeks
later.[6] During this time, Australian Prime Minister, Billy Hughes, invited
several of Australia's Victoria Cross recipients of the war to return to Australia
and assist in a recruiting drive; Whittle was among a group of ten who
accepted the offer.[4] The party embarked aboard HMAT Medic on 24 August,
[4] bound for Melbourne. Arriving seven weeks later,[6] Whittle returned to
Tasmania and assisted with recruiting on the island during the last few weeks
of the war. Following the Armistice, he was discharged from the Australian
Imperial Force on 15 December 1918.[4]

[edit] Later life

After his discharge from the Australian Imperial Force, Whittle re-settled in
Hobart with his family. He briefly re-enlisted in the 40th Battalion during
1921, before moving to Sydney, New South Wales, where he gained
employment as an inspector on the staff of an insurance company.[4] Whittle
later worked in several other jobs, including a period of service with Tooth's
Brewery in Sydney. On 11 November 1929, he attended the New South Wales
Dinner for recipients of the Victoria Cross in Sydney, before briefly re-
enlisting in the Australian Army once again the following year.[9]

On 7 February 1934,[1] Whittle was walking through University Park when he

was accosted by a small boy who said that his younger brother had fallen into
the lake. Rushing to the area, Whittle dived into the weed-choked lake and
began searching for the boy. Finding him unconscious, Whittle brought the
boy to the bank and applied artificial respiration for approximately half an
hour; the child later came around and was taken to hospital. Whittle left the
scene and proceeded home in a taxi without leaving his name, but his
identity was subsequently discovered and he was presented with a Certificate
of Merit by the Royal Life Saving Society. Whittle himself was ill for a fortnight
due to swallowing some of the foul water in the ornamental lake.[9]

During the Second World War, Whittle's son, Ivan Ernest, served as a private
in the 2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion. He was killed when the B-24
Liberator aircraft he was travelling on crashed into a marshalling yard at Port
Moresby, New Guinea, on 7 September 1943.[9][21] At his home in Glebe on
2 March 1946, John Whittle died of a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 63.
Survived by his wife, a son and three daughters, he was buried in Rookwood
Cemetery.[1]

[edit] Notes

1.^ a b c d e f g h Allen, Stephen (1990). "Whittle, John Woods (1882–1946)".

Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University.
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A120538b.htm. Retrieved 20
November 2008.

2.^ a b c d e Gliddon 2000, p. 78

3.^ "John Woods Whittle". Boer War Nominal Roll. Australian War Memorial.
http://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/boer/person.asp?p=17194. Retrieved 20
November 2008.

4.^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Staunton 2005, p. 77

5.^ "John Woods Whittle" (PDF). First World War Embarkation Roll. Australian
War Memorial.
http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm8/23_43_2/pdf/0214.pdf. Retrieved
21 November 2008.

6.^ a b c d e f g h i j "John Woods WHITTLE". The AIF Project. Australian

Defence Force Academy. http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?
pid=322530. Retrieved 21 November 2008.

7.^ Gliddon 2000, p. 46

8.^ a b c d e "12th Battalion". Australian military units. Australian War

Memorial. http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11199.asp. Retrieved 23
November 2008.

9.^ a b c d e Gliddon 2000, p. 79

10.^ a b "Recommendation for John Woods Whittle to be awarded a

Distinguished Conduct Medal" (PDF). Recommendations: First World War.
Australian War Memorial.
http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm28/1/20P2/0037.pdf. Retrieved 27
November 2008.

11.^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30036, p. 3944, 26 April 1917.

Retrieved 27 November 2008.

12.^ a b c Gliddon 2000, p. 77

13.^ a b c d e f Staunton 2005, p. 75

14.^ a b c "Recommendation for John Woods Whittle to be awarded a Victoria

Cross" (PDF). Recommendations: First World War. Australian War Memorial.
http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm28/1/23/0073.pdf. Retrieved 30
November 2008.

15.^ Gliddon 2000, p. 44

16.^ Gliddon 2000, pp. 44–45

17.^ a b Gliddon 2000, p. 45

18.^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30122, p. 5704, 8 June 1917.

Retrieved 30 November 2008.

19.^ a b "Whittle, John Woods: SERN 2902 3519". Records Search. National
Archives of Australia. http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?
B=1935410&I=1&SE=1. Retrieved 2 February 2009.

20.^ "AWM4, Class 23/29 – 12th Infantry Battalion". Australian Army War
Diaries – First World War. Australian War Memorial.
http://www.awm.gov.au/diaries/ww1/folder.asp?folder=953. Retrieved 3
December 2008.
21.^ "Whittle, Ivan Ernest". Casualty Details. Commonwealth War Graves
Commission. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?
casualty=2164952. Retrieved 11 December 2008.

[edit] References

Gliddon, Gerald (2000). Arras & Messines 1917. VCs of the First World War.
Sparkford, England: Wrens Park Publishing. ISBN 0-905-778-618.

Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles
they Fought. Prahran, Victoria, Australia: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 1-74066-
288-1.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: John Whittle

"Whittle VC". VC Recipients. Diggerhistory.info.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-vc/whittle-vc.htm. Retrieved 20
November 2008.

Paul F. Wilson. "John Woods Whittle (1883–1946)". Find A Grave Memorial.

Findagrave.com. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?
page=gr&GSln=Whittle&GSfn=John&GSmn=Woods&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in
&GSob=n&GRid=10828653&. Retrieved 20 November 2008.

Persondata

NAME Whittle, John Woods

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian Victoria Cross recipient

DATE OF BIRTH 3 August 1882

PLACE OF BIRTH Huon Island, Tasmania, Australia

DATE OF DEATH 2 March 1946

PLACE OF DEATH Glebe, New South Wales, Australia

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Whittle"

Categories: 1882 births | 1946 deaths | Australian Army soldiers | Australian

military personnel of the Second Boer War | Australian World War I recipients
of the Victoria Cross | Deaths from cerebral hemorrhage | People from
Tasmania | Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal | Royal Navy
sailors

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