WHYTE, Richard and Vincent

Richard and Vincent were the sons of William and Catherine Whyte of ‘Appleview’ Inverell.  Their births were registered at Singleton NSW in 1894 and 1987 respectively. Richard enlisted at Inverell on 6 January 1916 stating he was a Farmer and that he had been previously rejected due to his teeth.  Vincent enlisted at Inverell on 27 January 1916.  He gave his occupation as Farmer and stated he had served two and a half years with the Inverell Cadets.  The brothers joined with other Inverell District men to form the Second Contingent of The Kurrajongs and left Inverell together on 29 February 1916.

Richard became a member of the 33rd Battalion, B Company and sailed from Australia on HMAT A74 Marathon in May.  After arriving in England he was transferred to the 1st Battalion and sent to France in September.  The following month he transferred to the 53rd Battalion.  During January 1917 he attended a Lewis Gun course.  Richard was wounded in action in September 1917 and invalided back to England where he was admitted to hospital with a gunshot wound to his back and foot.  He returned to Australia in March 1918 and was medically discharged.

Vincent was a member of the 33rd Battalion, A Company, and sailed from Australia on the same ship as his brother. After arriving in England and undertaking further training at Salisbury Plain, he was sent to France in September.  The following month he was transferred to the 1st Battalion, then the 53rd Battalion.  He did duty with the Division Pigeon Service in December 1916 and then in 1917 with the 14th Field Company Engineers.  Vincent was wounded in action in March 1918 and transferred to England with a gunshot wound to his knee.  After time in hospital at Brighton and Dartford, he returned to France in September.  He was wounded again and transferred to England with a gunshot wound to his elbow.  He returned to Australia in June 1919 and was medically discharged in November 1920.

After the War the brothers lived in the Sydney area.  Richard died in 1971 at Hurlstone Park, NSW and Vincent died in 1967.  Their names are recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll.

Photo: Vincent Whyte - Courtesy of family