Fred and Albert

Fred and Albert White, who served with the 25th Battalion, and who were killed at Morlancourt on The Somme (France) on June 10, 1918 (source: PoliceBulletin 310, p31)

The following paragraph is from 'Pioneering the Pine', the display prepared for the Pine Rivers Heritage Museum 2008.
One of the most significant events in the upheaval and spreading of the family was WW1. Four brothers (Frederick, Albert, Walter and William) enlisted but only two returned. The tragic story of the deaths of Fred and Albert is known to many descendants. The elder Fred had served seven years in the Australian Light Horse and Mounted Infantry but joined the 25th Battalion Infantry in Sept 1915. Younger brother Albert joined the same battalion two weeks later. It seems that the brothers had conspired to serve together.

They saw considerable action in the war fields of France, both having suffered multiple wounds and illnesses. Within a few months of armistice, the 25th were engaged in the Battle of Morlancourt. On 10 June 1918, Albert lay wounded between battle lines. Fred crawled forward under enemy fire and dragged his younger brother back towards safety.

Sadly both were killed in machine gun fire as they neared safety. They remained in France, eventually resting in Beacon Cemetery, Sailly-Laurette.