Max White

Max White was born on 1895 and lived from 1926 at Yagobie till his death. He was a top class polo player through the 1920s. White retired to Glen Royal and died in Moree District Hospital on 27 July 1966 at the age of 71. He was accorded with full military honours at his funeral and an RSL service was conducted, with members of Gravesend and Moree sub branches in attendances. Stanner referred him as “gallant, skilful soldier”. He was a cousin of Patrick White, the author.

Service History

White served as Second Lieutenant in the Special Reserve and posted to the 5th Brigade of the Royal Frontier Artillery (RFA). He served as a Lieutenant with 64th Battery RFA : Received a Military Cross (MC) in August 1916. A member of the Gravesend, N.S.W, Returned Services League, led ANZAC Day March for many years. He returned as a Lieutenant on 23 August 1939. White commanded the Gravesend Troop of the 24th Light Horse Regiment (LHR), Citizen’s Military Forces and later C Squadron.

White enlisted in Paddington (N.S.W.) and served as a Major at the outbreak of WWII and in 1942 served in the Northern Australia Observer Unit (2/1st NAOU). He reverted to Captain and later Second-in-Command in 30 June 1942. On 24 July 1942 he led a small advance party from Sydney to Katherine, via Adelaide. He was appointed as a Commanding Officer of the NAOU on 23 December 1943. White left NAOU on 27 March 1945. Source Northern Territory Dictionary of Biography, 2008,p.634-635