Died Coronary thrombosis

Private H. B. Whiteley, MM; Rotorua; born Manuka Creek, Otago, 10 Nov 1905; forest ranger; wounded 8 May 1943. (Source: Ross, A. 23 Battalion. p.273.)

'The news from the north that day was that the enemy defences were crumbling fast and that both Bizerta and Tunis had fallen. Possibly the news reached the enemy opposite. At any rate, the gunners in this force appeared more determined than ever to blaze away their reserves of ammunition in a hurry; they plastered indiscriminately the battalion's forward area, wounding Lieutenant J. L. Johnston and killing Lieutenant Max Cross. Enemy shell and mortar fire also cut the signals cables to the forward companies so often that the signallers were under pressure to maintain communications. In this connection, a comparatively new reinforcement, Private Whiteley, distinguished himself by the cheerful and efficient manner in which he repaired lines under fire. When Whiteley was wounded on the following day, other signallers such as Privates King and ‘Bluey’ Smail, and Corporals Ron and Ernie Ritchie carried on with their difficult work with equal cheerfulness and devotion to duty. Private H. B. Whiteley, MM; Rotorua; born Manuka Creek, Otago, 10 Nov 1905; forest ranger; wounded 8 May 1943.' (Source: Ross, A. 23 Battalion. p. 273.) AWMM