The superb Boer War, Great War campaign group of four issued to Andrew White, who served with the 6th NZMR Contingent in South Africa and was wounded on Gallipoli whilst serving with the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Group is together with his privately-named miniatures.

 

Andrew White was born at Brisbane, Australia on 23rd June 1864, although his birth date is also seen as 1868 and 1874. White was educated in Australia, and spent six years serving with the Queensland Scottish before emigrating to New Zealand and settling at Pukekohe. White was a painter and decorator by trade, but devoted a lot of time to the Volunteer force in the region. He served for three years in the Pukekohe Mounted Rifles, rising to Quartermaster-Sergeant before offering his services for the war in South Africa.

White enlisted into No. 16 Company of the Sixth Contingent, NZMR, with the rank of Corporal and sailed for South Africa on 30th January, 1901. On the 15th of October, 1901 White was involved in a skirmish with a Boer force at Pongola Bosch, during which time he climbed a kopje for a better view. The kopje gave way from under him and he fell 15 feet, knocking him out. A rock and tree also fell and these struck his leg. He was admitted to No. 18 General Hospital at Charlestown. Here he spent three months recuperating, which included the interesting application of a lead and opium lotion to his leg wound, before being invalided back to New Zealand in December 1901.

White eventually recovered from his injuries, and through  a series of Medical Boards of Inquiry, was granted a period of leave and exonerated from any blame for the accident.

White settled in Cambridge after the war, continuing in his trade as a self-employed painter. On the 7th of June, 1904, White married Elizabeth Johnstone, who already had a daughter by a previous marriage. By December of that year they had a son of their own, Alexander George.

Andrew White enlisted into the NZEF on 12th of January, 1915 and joined the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment. He sailed for Egypt with the 4th Reinforcements on the 17th of April, 1915. Trooper White landed on Gallipoli on 23rd August, 1915 and was immediately involved in the battle for Hill 60. White was wounded during this engagement on the 28th August and evacuated to Mudros. White suffered further debility when he contracted enteritis and dystentery which caused his removal to England for further treatment.

By January 1916, White had recovered and in March he returned to Egypt and was posted to the Mounted Rifles Training Battalion at Moascar. He was promoted to Temporary Lance-Sergeant and placed in charge of the Officer's Mess at Tel-el-Kebir, however his health must have deteriorated and he was invalided back to New Zealand on board the hospital ship Navua and struck off the strength of the NZEF on 26th June, 1916.

White was not discharged from the NZEF on his return, and after a further period of recovery he reported for duty a second time on 26th October, 1916. He sailed for England with the 19th Reinforcements, arriving in the UK in late January 1917. He was posted to the 16th (Waikato) Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Auckland Infantry Regiment and embarked for France on the 28th May 1917. He was immediatley attached to No.4 Company, NZ Army Service Corps for a short period. In August 1917 White was admitted to hospital, suffering from influenza. In September a medical board classified him 'C' class and he was invalided back to New Zealand. This ended his military service and he was discharged from the NZEF on the 3rd of February 1918. His discharge certificate cites wounds and old age. Andrew White returned to Queensland after the war, where he died.

 

The QSA is correctly impressed 3299 Pte A. WHITE, N. ZEALAND M.R. and the trio is correctly impressed 13/975 TPR. A. WHITE. N.Z.E.F.

This lot also comes with White's miniature group, beautifully engraved with his service details.

NZEF service file held at Archives New Zealand

NZMR service file held at Archives New Zealand