Military History

Whiteman attended Guildford Grammar School on a scholarship and was briefly on staff there whilst waiting for entry to Oxford University
Exeter College, England. He was due to take up a place as a  Rhodes Scholar (awarded 1915Western Mail 25.12.1914)
Once in England in 1915, he assisted at the Inns of Court Officer’s Training Corps and was promoted to 2nd Lieut.
Commissioned Rank 2nd Lieut.
Commissioned Unit 2nd Bn. 8th Hampshire Regiment, (UK) 21.4.1916
Embarked NA
Roll Rank NA
Roll Unit NA
Whiteman was transferred to Newton, on the Isle of Wight in May 1916. He then transferred to 4th Hampshire Regiment.(Daily News 18.11.1916) However, this Regt. received instruction cancelling duty its in France and directing it to proceed to India in July 1916. Whiteman, wished to serve in Europe and requested a transfer to the Royal Flying Corps from the Special Reserve Squadron. He was transferred 2.5.1916 and began flying with the No.7 Reserve Squadron in September 1916. Whiteman was accidentally killed on his first solo flight in a Maurice Farman A 949 Aircraft (Hendon Museum Casualty Cards) near Parkhouse, Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire UK 23.10.1916. He had been flying with an instructor for 5 hours and commenced a solo flight when he nose dived to the ground, his instructor felt he may have fainted. His cousin from Bexhill arranged for him to be buried there and he was given full military honours (Camp Chronicle Midland 25.1.1917).He was buried at Bexhill Cemetery, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex. UK Plot E, Row F, Grave P2.
Final Rank 2nd Lieut. 8th Hampshire Regt. attached to Royal Flying Corps (RFC).
Medical Condition Dec’d, accidentally killed in flight training.
Awards and Medals
Notes His death was not recognised with a military award or honours as it had occurred whilst in training. Whiteman has a memorial portrait hanging in the Guildford Grammar School Library. He was a high performing student with academic and sporting prowess, and many awards including a Rhodes Scholarship announced 1914. (West Australian Newspaper 23.12.1914 p5) Whiteman's family lived in Middle Swan (Western Mail 12.1.1917 p2 9)
Photos 'Officers and NCOs 1914'. Photo Source Guildford Grammar School Archives,
              Whiteman in Western Mail 12.1.1917 p1
              Bexhill War Memorial. Photgraph courtesy G. Blackburn
Information Source
Bexhill War Memorial. Photo courtesy G. Blackburn
Camp Chronicle Midland Junction
Casualty cards Hendon Museum
Daily News
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Guildford Grammar School War Memorial
'Photo of Officers and NCOs' GGS Cadets 1914, sourced and reproduced with permission of the Guildford Grammar School Archives
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail




Jane Brook, Middle Swan

Associated Images