John Woods Whittle

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John Woods Whittle VC, DCM (3 August 1882 – 2 March 1946) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Whittle was born on Huon Island near Gordon, Tasmania in 1869 and enlisted in Tasmania's 4th Contingent which saw action in the Cape Colony in the Second Boer War 1901–1902. He then enlisted in the Royal Navy where he was a stoker for five years before signing up to the Permanent Military Forces (of the Australian Army). He was married on 23 July 1909 to Emily Margaret Roland and eventually had six children.

Whittle transferred to the First Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 6 August 1915 as acting corporal, sailing as reinforcement for the 26th Battalion in October 1915. He was wounded in action on 18 June 1916 and promoted to sergeant in October. On 27 February 1917 his battalion attacked the Germans at the villages of Le Barque and Ligny-Thilloy. Whittle bombed a German machine-gun position, routing them, and won a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his actions.

He was 33 years old, and still a sergeant in the 12th Battalion, (S.A., W.A. & Tasmania), A.I.F. during World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 April 1917, near Boursies, France, Sergeant Whittle was in command of a platoon when the enemy, under cover of an intense artillery barrage, attacked the small trench he was holding and, owing to their numbers, succeeded in entering it. Sergeant Whittle collected his men, charged the enemy and regained the position. On a second occasion, when the enemy broke through our line and tried to bring up a machine-gun to enfilade the position, Sergeant Whittle rushed across the fire-swept ground and attacked the enemy with bombs, killing all of them and capturing the gun.

Wounded twice more in 1918, Whittle returned to Australia in October and discharged on 15 October 1918. During the Great Depression Whittle struggled to clothe his children and was in need of work. After a plea for work the Western Assurance Co. offered him a position and he was employed by them.

Whittle saved a small boy from drowning in an ornamental pool in University Park, the act becoming well known despite Whittle not giving his name at the time.

Whittle died in Glebe, New South Wales on 2 March 1946 and was buried in Rookwood Cemetery.

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Other sources listed by the Australian Dictionary of Biography: