Just Another Pair Of Socks

Melton District ANZACS

John WHITESIDE

Personal

Born: 1889

Birthplace: Melton, Victoria, Australia

Parents: Edward Whiteside & Janet (Jeanie) Singleton

Died: 4 September, 1918

Cause: Died of Illness; Acute nephritis

Place of death: 17th General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt

Burial place: Hadra War Memorial Cemetery, Alexandria, Egypt.Grave location: Plot F, Grave 201

Awards and Honours

  • British War Medal 1914-20
  • Victory Medal

Battalions

13th Australian Light Horse Regiment

Events

Enlistment

Regimental Service Number: 2182

Enlistment date: 11 October, 1916 Melbourne

Age at enlistment: 27 years 4 months

Address at enlistment: 16 Collins St., Essendon

Religion: Church of England

Marital Status: Married

Next of kin: Father: Mr. Edward Whiteside, Melton P. O., Victoria, amended to:
Wife: Jessie Evelyn Whiteside, Neyliona, Carrathol, N.S.W.

Physical Description: Height: 5 feet 10 inches
Weight: 147 pounds (10 stone 7 pounds)
Complexion: Medium
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown
Distinctive marks: Scar on knee, mole on chest, vacs x 3

Embarkation ship: R.M.S. A 3 Omrah.

Rank: Trooper Signaller

War Service Summary

11/10/1916 - Enlisted
12/10/1916 to 14/11/1916 - Signals School
08/01/1917 - To 13th Light Horse Regiment
17/01/1917 - Embarked
27/03/1917 - Disembarked Plymouth
16/01/1918 - Proceeded O/Seas to France
18/03/1918 - Embarked for England from France (Nephritis)
19/03/1918 - Admitted to Kitchener Military Hospital Brighton (Nephritis)
11/05/1918 - Transferred to 1st Auxiliary Hospital Harefield (Nephritis)
13/05/1918 - Admitted to 1st Auxiliary Hospital
02/07/1918 - Returned to Australia per D14 from England for discharge Nephritis
21/07/1918 To hospital, Alexandria, from troop transport ship
04/09/1918 - Died acute Nephritis at 17th General Hospital
24/02/1919 - Effects returned via the Devon

War Service Commemerated

Life After the War

Additional Information

Names of wife & children:
28/10/1916 - John married Jessie Evelyn Miller
Child: Douglas

Place/s of residence:
Melton
16 Collins Street, Essendon

Other relevant information:
John attended Melton State School, as did his brother William Fell Whiteside 282/3995, who was killed at Pozieres. (Confirmed on Roll of Honour Circular AWM)

The Argus,
September 11, 1918
WHITESIDE. -Died of illness in Egypt, September 4, Private J. Whiteside, beloved son of E. Whiteside, and dearly loved brother of Bob, Ted, Tom, and Will (died of wounds in France).(Inserted by his father and brothers, Essendon,late of Melton.)

Melton Express
Saturday 14 September 1918 p 2
Mr. Whiteside, late of Melton, has been officially informed that his eldest son, Jack, has died on Active Service. Deep regret is felt for Mr. Whiteside, this being the second son to pay the supreme sacrifice, fighting for his country. Flags were flown at half-mast in respect to an honored and respected Melton boy.

Melton Express
Saturday 28 September 1918, P 2 A very impressive in memorial service was held on Sunday last to the memory of the late Private
Whiteside. Special hymns were sung. The Vicar preached from the text, "Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends." At the conclusion of the service the father of the late soldier was presented, on behalf of the Ladies' Guild, with two service books in memory of his two boys who had been killed in action.

The Argus,
September 4, 1919
WHITESIDE-In loving memory of Pte John Whiteside, died of illness, September 4, at the 17th General Military Hospital, Egypt, beloved husband of Jessie, and father of little Douglas

The Argus, September 4, 1920
WHITESIDE-In loving memory of Sig J Whiteside, died of illness, 17th General Military Hospital,
Egypt, September 4 1918, beloved husband of Jessie and father of Douglas.Thy will be done.

Melton Cemetery Headstone
WHITESIDE In Loving Memory
Of
Our Dear Parents
JANET WHITESIDE
Who died 27th. May 1904
Aged 40 Years
And EDWARD WHITESIDE
Who died 26th Jan 1933
Aged 73 Years
Also Our Brothers
JOHN WHITESIDE
Aged 31 Years
And WILLIAM FELL WHITESIDE
Aged 23 Years
Who Lost Their Lives In The
Great War
1915-1918
Reunited

Sources

Australian War Memorial
Service Record
Roll of Honour
Embarkation Rolls
Newspaper accounts
Melton Cemetery Inscriptions compiled by Melton Family History Group