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Wilford Whittle
Major General Wilford William Whittle (30 August 1892 – 17 June 1964) was a senior officer of the Australian Army who served in both the First and Second World Wars.[1] Early life and careerWhittle was born on 30 August 1892 in Youanmite, Victoria, and was commissioned into the Siege Artillery Brigade, 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade, on 21 May 1915.[2] Lieutenant Whittle embarked at Melbourne in July 1915,[3] was wounded in action in December 1916, promoted to captain in November 1917 and was Mentioned in Despatches.[4][5] In February 1919, Whittle attended Ordnance Courses at the Ordnance College Woolwich, London, and was subsequently promoted to major.[4] By 1936 Whittle had been promoted to lieutenant colonel and commanded the Northern Territory garrison from 13 April 1936 to 12 March 1939.[2] This was during a period of increasing world tension in the lead up to World War II and there were limited forces available there with only 4 officers and 84 other ranks present there. In 1937 the Northern Standard stated their belief that the town was a "death trap for the garrison which could not fight a bigger force than a cruiser's landing party".[6] Whittle left the posting in March 1939 and was replaced by AB MacDonald who oversaw a build up of personnel and resources at the site.[7][8] Whittle Street in Larrakeyah Barracks, Darwin, commemorates this command.[9] Second World WarA commander of various brigades of the Royal Australian Artillery during the early months of the Second World War, Whittle became Deputy Master-General of Ordnance in November 1940, and later Master-General of Ordnance,[1] a post he held until his retirement in 1948.[10] On retirement Whittle was granted the honorary rank of major general from 31 December 1948.[4] He died in Melbourne on 17 June 1964.[1] References
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