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Record #5547
Name :
: Joseph T. WHITE (1927 - )
  aka : Joe White


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1927 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: Jun 1928
Country
: Australia

Ship
: Ballarat

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Fairbridge Homes
NotesIn 1928, Joseph T. White, 7 (along with brother, William W. White, 11) arrived at Fremantle, Australia in a group of children from the Child Emigration Society, The Strand, London, England.

Joe White said that his years at Fairbridge had an enormous, but negative, effect on his life. "Organisations of that kind tend to attract a bigger proportion of people included to be more sadistic than ordinary people," he said. He told of sexual deviance and abuse towards the boys with whom he resided.

"The farm consisted of a number of cottages, each containing 14 boys and presided over by a cottage mother. If you were lucky you got a good cottage mother; if you weren't, like me, you got a religious maniac. There is nothing worse in this world than a religious maniac."

In 1988, Joe White published his first novel, Pringle's War, which was reviewed in Australia by Martin Stewart:

"Joining army was a release

If a nation were to design an upbringing for its sons that would steel them mentally and physically for the rigours of military life, then this autobiographical novel could serve as a manual.

The initiative and resolve of White's character [in his novel, Pringle's War], Joe Pringle, is born of the brutality of an orphanage life, and there's no mistaking the identity of the orphanage which fostered such burning hatreds in this WA author's pen.

From the cover, Pringle's War is a war story set in the western desert, but in truth it's as much Joe White's battle with authority, pomposity and prejudice. As such it's a biting indictment of his minders at Fairbridge, where he was consigned at a tender age, and a bitter assessment of the British class system as it manifested itself through its military graduates.

Joe Pringle's war did not begin in 1939 but the day he was born. The attitudes founded in the indignities and deprivations of orphanage life carry on through his adult years; child as father to the man.

Joining the army for Joe Pringle was a release, his first glimpse that he was a normal human being with a mind equal to, if not better, than the next.

He is the epitome of the Digger and his story is told in the language of the Australian soldier -- crude and colourful. He distrusts authority in any shape or form, the stiffer the officer's uniform the stiffer the bristles on the nape of his neck.

He relies on his instincts and his mates. rules for survival that served the author well. Jose White survived the desert and the jungle and in reality has lived to tell some of his tale through this book. ...

Take from his Manchester home and family at the age of two, Joe White found happiness in his post-war marriage and a farming life near Dardanup.

He later founded the Rats of Tobruk Association, has had several short stories published and is now retired in Perth. He pulls no punches in this book, merely veils the targets by the simple expedient of writing in a novel form. But the real objects of his wrath are there for all to see."


Joe published his autobiography in 1993, and an article was written by Bruce Butler about it and Joe's life:

"War survivor reveals the human side

'War is a very confusing business,' said Joe White, 72. He has seen more of life and death than most.

For much of his youth, Joe could be excused for thinking life itself was confusing. After his father died in 1924 leaving a young wife and seven children, Joe and his older brother Wally were fostered out, then shipped to Australia. Joe lived eight years at Fairbridge, near Pinjarra.

He left at 15, joined the army and served five years on the front line in some of Australia's bloodiest campaigns at Tobruk, El Alamein and the Pacific islands.

In the madness of Beirut he briefly met a brother he never knew. They spent just one night together, in 1942. That brother, Jack, was killed soon after.

Wally, the brother he grew up with at Fairbridge, met an English girl, married her and returned to UK, and they saw each other only once more.

Mr. White, who has written two novels, has now completed a 453-page autobiography about his remarkable journey through life.

He met his wife, Madge, in 1943 and married her three weeks later. This year they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Fairbridge was run by an ex-soldier who ruled with a strap, so Joe ws no stranger to discipline.

'I was a good solider. I was well trained," he said, "I sailed in 1941 and Wally, my brother, joined me at Tobruk. When we were in the breakthrough at Ruin Ridge (El Alamein), Wally was captured and later shipped across to a prisoner-of-war camp in Italy.

'I got postcards, with very basic details, saying he was okay, then I learnt later that he escaped and lived with the Italian partisans. He was badly frost-bitten and later lost his legs as a result of those injuries.

'I saw him briefly after the war but I never saw him again after that. I couldn't find him.'

From Tobruk, Joe moved on to Palestine and up through Syria to the Turkish border to stop the German advance via turkey to the Suez Canal. In Beirut, he was re-united with Jack.

'I got a 24-hour pass and that's where I had to walk up to a bloke and say 'I'm your brother Joe'. I'd never seen him since we were children, but it is a funny thing when you know he is your brother -- there is a bonding. We both got pretty full.'

Then they went the ways of their units and Jack was reported killed in the Sicily landing.

'I was lucky not to be a part of the main body of men who were lost. But the desert was tough -- there was no food, there was no water, it was a bad time. It was so hard', Mr White said.

'We would be in a vehicle, it was incredibly hot and dusty, swirling into our eyes and hair. Our food was covered in dirt.'

Mr White said the emotion of war -- and its traumatic effects -- were difficult to cope with.

When he returned to Perth in 1945, he was so badly affected by his experiences he could not use a telephone or ride on a bus.

'After it was over you wanted to go back to war.'" 
ContributorsCreated : 2009-03-13 17:06:02 / From original database


Last Updated : 2009-03-13 17:47:18 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  91 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
19817 WAITE, George1895ENG,     Apr 1908 : Victorian CAN Hurst House Training Home  
4636 WHITE, A 1897ENG, SRY, Surbiton Jul 1906 : City of Vienna CAN Ellinor Close  
26474 WHITE, Albert1896ENG,     Mar 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
17997 WHITE, Alfred1901ENG,     Mar 1909 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
5719 WHITE, Alice ENG,     Aug 1875 : - Unknown - CAN Louisa Birt  
21259 WHITE, Alice1905ENG,     Jun 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
2846 WHITE, Annie1891ENG, WAR, Birmingham Jun 1909 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
10763 WHITE, Annie 1874ENG,     Jun 1880 : Sarmatian CAN Maria Rye  
6910 WHITE, Archie1880ENG,     Mar 1891 : Sarnia CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
7891 WHITE, Arthur1915ENG,    , Holloway May 1931 : Laurentic CAN Waifs & Strays  
11407 WHITE, Arthur1900ENG,    , hull Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
20282 WHITE, Arthur1890ENG,     Oct 1905 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
22202 WHITE, Beaumont J. W.1879ENG,     Apr 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
13890 WHITE, Bernard Garfield1887ENG,    , Kings Norton Apr 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
6273 WHITE, Caroline1898ENG,     May 1910 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
20300 WHITE, Charles Henry1872 Mar 1887 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
27016 WHITE, Charles Henry1912ENG, LND, Mile End Aug 1921 : Themistocles AUS Fairbridge Homes  
12975 WHITE, Charles W1885ENG,     Apr 1896 : Scotsman CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
16490 WHITE, Cyril Thomas1907ENG,     Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
25703 WHITE, Doris1902ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Louisa Birt  
9569 WHITE, Dorothy May1905ENG,     Oct 1920 : Scandinavian CAN Barnardos  
26417 WHITE, Edith1920 Jul 1931 : Oronsay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
26443 WHITE, Edmund Davis1900ENG, ESS, West Ham Jul 1913 : Belgic AUS Fairbridge Homes  
4993 WHITE, Edward1911ENG, SRY, Wandsworth Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
11801 WHITE, Edward1901ENG,     Oct 1910 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
22950 WHITE, Edward James1891ENG,     May 1905 : Southwark CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
12280 WHITE, Edwin1922ENG, WAR, Aston May 1932 : Jervis Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
8633 WHITE, Eleanor1912ENG, LDN, London Jul 1925 : Athenia CAN Barnardos  
18004 WHITE, Emily1885ENG,     Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
15358 WHITE, Emma1863ENG,     Jun 1871 : Prussian CAN Maria Rye  
24310 WHITE, Frank1911 Oct 1925 : Benalla AUS Barnardos  
17776 WHITE, Fred1896ENG,     Jul 1905 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
17652 WHITE, Frederick1901ENG,     May 1911 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
24606 WHITE, Frederick1898 Jun 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
26569 WHITE, Frederick C G1897ENG,     Mar 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
22695 WHITE, Frederick C.1890ENG,     Apr 1904 : Kensington CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
6375 WHITE, Frederick E.1885ENG,     Apr 1900 : Cambroman CAN Barnardos  
11446 WHITE, George1907ENG,     Sep 1923 : Montcalm CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
11628 WHITE, George1899ENG,     Aug 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
14410 WHITE, George1881ENG,     1895 : - Unknown - CAN Waifs & Strays  
23263 WHITE, George1861ENG,     Jul 1873 : Manitoban CAN MacPherson Homes  
11706 WHITE, George W1888ENG,     May 1902 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
15591 WHITE, Gladys1912ENG,     Sep 1920 : Metagama CAN MacPherson Homes  
27289 WHITE, Grace Mary1924ENG, DEV, Plymouth Jul 1935 : Moreton Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
16561 WHITE, Harold1890ENG,     Oct 1904 : Bavarian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
18850 WHITE, Harry1883ENG,     Sep 1899 : Arawa CAN Barnardos  
24913 WHITE, Harry1901 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
18353 WHITE, Henry1884ENG,     Apr 1901 : Dominion CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
24866 WHITE, Henry1894 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
13644 WHITE, James1882ENG,     May 1887 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
25536 WHITE, James1899ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
11408 WHITE, James Hepton1900ENG, YKS, Hull Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
27017 WHITE, Jane1910ENG,     Aug 1921 : Themistocles AUS Fairbridge Homes  
15161 WHITE, John1899ENG,     - Unknown - CAN Unknown  
24197 WHITE, John1853ENG,     May 1870 : Scandinavian CAN Boy's Home Great Queen Street, London Sandranne  
21199 WHITE, John George1915ENG,     Jan 1927 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
5547 WHITE, Joseph T.1927ENG,     Jun 1928 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
8572 WHITE, Kathleen 1888ENG, LDN, London Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
15172 WHITE, Laura1892ENG,     Jun 1900 : Siberian CAN Middlemore  
4860 WHITE, Leonard1914ENG,    , Burgess Hill Apr 1925 : Montclare CAN Barnardos  
11443 WHITE, Leonard 1908ENG,    , Wallasey Jul 1923 : Montcalm CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
2694 WHITE, Lillian Maud1899ENG, YKS, Hull Oct 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
2845 WHITE, Louisa1902ENG, WAR, Birmingham Jun 1909 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
16892 WHITE, Margaret1899ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
2695 WHITE, Martha Jane1901ENG, YKS, Hull Oct 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
8052 WHITE, Mary Ann1846ENG,     Jun 1869 : Austrian CAN Maria Rye  
5209 WHITE, Molly1925ENG,     Sep 1935 : Duchess of Atholl CAN Fairbridge Homes  
25462 WHITE, Percy1895ENG,     May 1909 : Corsican CAN Barnardos  
21200 WHITE, Peter Bow1916ENG,     Jan 1927 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
22210 WHITE, Richard1873ENG,     Jun 1886 : Circassian CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
11498 WHITE, Richard W1905ENG,    , Newcastle under Tyne May 1922 : Montcalm CAN Catholic Childrens Emigration Service of London  
13028 WHITE, Thomas1882ENG,     Jul 1896 : Parisian CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
13683 WHITE, Thomas ENG,     May 1887 : Oregon CAN National Childrens Home  
13684 WHITE, Thomas1878 May 1887 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
18679 WHITE, Thomas1899ENG,     Sep 1911 : Lake Manitoba CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
9570 WHITE, Victor1905ENG,     Mar 1914 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
25951 WHITE, Victor Joseph1912ENG, LND, Islington Feb 1924 : Euripides AUS Fairbridge Homes  
8634 WHITE, Violet1915ENG, LDN, London Jul 1925 : Athenia CAN Barnardos  
9045 WHITE, Violet M1896ENG,     Aug 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
2696 WHITE, Violet Mae1903ENG, YKS, Hull Oct 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
14165 WHITE, Wilfred Ormond1889ENG,     Jul 1899 : Lake Huron CAN Barnardos  
6911 WHITE, William1881ENG,     Mar 1891 : Sarnia CAN Marchmont Homes (now Barnardos)  
11223 WHITE, William1893ENG,     May 1900 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
11224 WHITE, William1893ENG,     Oct 1900 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
14690 WHITE, William1871ENG,     Aug 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
24196 WHITE, William1852ENG,     May 1870 : Scandinavian CAN Boy's Home, Great Queen Street, London  
26725 WHITE, William1901 Oct 1910 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
20113 WHITE, William Hy1871ENG,     Jun 1886 : Lake Superior CAN Barnardos  
11591 WHITE, William John1913ENG, LDN, London Sep 1924 : Melita CAN Barnardos  
5548 WHITE, William W.1917ENG,     Jun 1928 : Ballarat AUS Fairbridge Homes  
21396 WHITE, Winnifred1899ENG,     Jun 1913 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  91 Entries