Biography – 2nd Lieutenant Robert Janes Little White
'C' Company Imperial Bushmen's Contingent
Lieutenant RJ White Sydney Mail 20 Oct 1900 p935
(NLA)
Robert James Little White was born at Condobolin, New South Wales on 22 October 1878, the son of a well known grazier John C White of New South Wales and Victoria. A professional soldier on the permanent staff of the First Australian Horse, he was educated in Victoria, before taking up his military position. White, although anxious to go to South Africa found that he could not embark with the first contingents as the numbers of permanent staff enlisting left the regiment depleted. He obtained his commission with the Imperial Bushmen and sailed with the contingent in April 1900. His brother in law Colonel Kenneth Mackay was the commanding officer of the regiment.
In a letter written before going in to his first engagement, Lt White said that he:
... was preparing his breast for a VC or a bullet. This would seem to be sadly prophetic. In a later letter, referring to a battle in which the bullets whistled all round, yet did little real harm, he wrote, 'I never felt the least afraid; it never seemed to strike me that I might get knocked over. One needs to have very bad luck to be shot dead'.1
His first engagement in South Africa was at Elands River. The officer commanding the brigade, especially mentioned him in connection with his bravery when he rescued a trooper from a heavy fire-zone. He was also well spoken of in connection with the manner in which he bore himself in several subsequent fights.2
Lieutenant Robert White met his death whilst serving in General Douglas's column, of Lord Methuen's division, operating in the north-west corner of the Transvaal in the Marico and Lichtenburg districts. Marching out of Ottoshoop in the direction of Lichtenburg on 9 March they experienced five encounters with the Boers. Numerous accounts of the incident appeared in newspapers.
A letter from Trooper Fewkes of Gunnedah dated Mafekking 25 September 1900 was published in the Evening News –
We got a severe blow by the death of Lt White, Australian Horse brother-in-law of Colonel Mackay who was greatly cut up at losing him. He was one of the gamest men and most popular officer in the regiment. He rode up to a wagon at Litchenburg, and pulling out his revolver, ordered two Boers to 'bail up'. They did so, but three Boers lying in the grass poured in a volley and shot him dead. Lord Methuen told Colonel Mackay that he was very sorry indeed to lose such a brave and competent officer.3
White was an extremely popular man and several descriptions of his funeral appeared in publications. The Daily Telegraph read, quoted a witness –
Slowly we marched to the tent in the Army Medical Corps lines, where poor White rested. Kindly hands had done what little they could. Wreaths had been placed on the coffin by sunburnt men, who silently, with bowed, uncovered head, dashed away the tear that would come. One and all we felt the loss. Outside the tent all was peaceful and hushed – one of god's own days. Eight of his comrades officers stood by, and the guard of honor furnished by White's own squadron and been quietly drawn up, with those of the regiment who could be spared temporarily from active duty. Our colonel stood with bowed head and hands clasped behind his back. At a quiet wave of the hand, the procession moved off – 'Reverse arms; slow march'. First came the guard; then the gun carriage, drawn by six gun horses (the gun then was charged ready for action); then Colonel Kenneth Mackay, the chief mourner, and by his side Major Miller. The regiment followed under our second in command, Major Le Mesurier. General and genuine respect and reverence marked our march through the village of Litchenburg, along the most lovely lanes, shaded on either side by weeping willows clad in their spring verdure. When the place was reached, the bier was again carefully removed from the gun carriage by the officers; the solemn words of the chaplain broke on our ears. Then suddenly, and with startling effect, our trumpets rang out the 'Reveille'. Each of us silently took our last farewell of one we loved, and left him to rest in peace.4
An account of Lieutenant White's burial even appeared in the London publication, The Graphic, accompanied by an impressive artistic rendering of the solemn occasion –
There was a most impressive scene at the burial of Lieutenant White,
near Lichtenburg. Lieutenant White was treacherously shot at Manana, four miles east of Lichtenburg,
while going to answer the white flag displayed by the Boers. He was the pet of the Bushmen's Corp.
'We all loved him, and will avenge him,' are his men’s own words. Colonel Mackay, the commanding
officer of the Bushmen, is his brother-in-law. At the funeral his comrades replaced their hats on
their heads, and joined hands together and swore most solemnly never again to recognise the white
flag. The figure at the head with hat in hand is the sergeant-major – a very well-known Australian.
The sergeant-major is a giant, but all the others stand over 6ft high.5
At White's parish church of St Enoch's Presbyterian Church, Newtown, Sydney a handsome tablet
of white marble on a black background was unveiled. The church heavily draped in mourning relieved
with white, set the tone for the service. Detachments of the Permanent Cavalry, Permanent Infantry,
Royal Australian Artillery, Army Service Corps, Scottish Rifles and the Australian Rifles, with
representatives of the Army Medical Corps, St George's Rifles, NSW Artillery and Scots College cadets.
Music played during the service included Crossing the Bar and the Dead March in Saul. The tablet,
covered by the Union Jack, was unveiled by the Colonial Secretary of New South Wales, the Hon. John See.
The inscription read – In memoriam Mr See, then addressed the congregation on the attributes of Lieutenant White and other young
Australians who had gone to South Africa. As the assemblage left the church a Highland piper
played a funeral dirge. Lieutenant White's place of death is given in various records as Wondersfontein or Manana.
His remains are in the Lichtenberg Municipal Cemetery. 1 Lt R White, Sunday Times, 23 September 1900 2 Lt R L White, Evening News, 20 September 1900. 3 Death Lt R White, Evening News, 3 November 1900. 4 Lieutenant R J L White – Burial of a Brave Soldier, Daily Telegraph, 3 November 1900. 5 Burial of Lt White, The Graphic, London, 24 November 1900. 6 Unveiling of a Tablet – The Late Lieutenant R J L White, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 November, 1900.
Lieutenant Robert J L White, N S.,
Imperial Bushmen,
Killed in action
At Wondersfontein, South Africa,
whilst leading his troops
on September 12, 1900,
Aged 22 years.
Erected by his young men friends.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.6
