Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Rix Whitta, born on 25 March 1886 at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, was the youngest in the family of Albert John and Sarah Elizabeth (née Rought) Whitta. Rix was his paternal grandmother’s maiden name. In 1891 John was a five-year-old scholar at home with his family at Methwold, Norfolk. Still at home in 1901, 15-year-old John was an assistant to his father, an auctioneer and valuer. He was an auctioneer's clerk, still living at Methwold with his parents and two sisters in 1911. His name appears on electoral rolls for 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914 and 1915 as having freehold land at Broad Fen, Methwold. John R. Whitta, a clerk, aged 27 years, departed from London per the “Otranto” on 9 May 1913, intending to reside in Australia. Did he come to New Zealand instead? Or after a time in Australia?

It appears that John had been not long in New Zealand when he enlisted with the New Zealand Forces on the outbreak of war - on 13 August 1914 at Timaru, having volunteered for Waimate’s Mounted quota two days before. But he had been long enough to establish a link with the Waimate Methodist Church. One of the first volunteers of the district, he was a farmer for Dailey and Manchester at Waimate. He had served for a year with the King’s Own Yeomanry. Single and Methodist, he named his father as next-of-kin – Albert Whitta, Methwold, Norfolk, England. Medically examined on 13 August 1914 at Timaru, John Whitta stood at 5 feet 10 inches, weighed 150 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-37 inches. He had a fair light brown complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, while his teeth were artificial. His limbs and chest were well formed, his heart normal. Being vaccinated and free of diseases and slight defects, he was in good bodily and mental health. He did have two scars 1-inch long ½ inch wide on the left side of his neck.

The South Canterbury Mounted Contingent was required to muster at the Show Grounds at 11 o’clock on 15 August for final inspection before entraining. A few days later the second draft of B Squadron (South Canterbury mounted men) of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles – some 34 or more Waimate men among them - arrived at Addington camp. The Eighth (South Canterbury) Mounted Rifles Squadron was under the command of Major Wain. Trooper J. R. Whitta was one of ten South Canterbury men promoted to the rank of lance-corporal in September at the Sockburn camp. 17 September 1914 was a quiet day at the Sockburn camp. The mounted Rifles were exercised in dismounted drill. A great part of the day was devoted by the men to the washing of their clothes, and a great number of them were given the opportunity of washing themselves also in the municipal baths, the Tramway Board providing cars for the carriage of the troops to and from the baths. On 18 September some went through a course of mounted drill while others checked their equipment. The benefit of training was beginning to tell. Just a month later Lance-Corporal J. R. Whitta was on his way to Egypt, embarking with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles on 16 October 1914 at Wellington or Lyttelton, for Suez, Egypt, and disembarking at Alexandria on 3 December 1914.

Having embarked for the Dardanelles on 9 May 1915, Whitta was appointed Lieutenant-Sergeant with the 8th Squadron, Canterbury Mounted Rifles on 9 August 1915 at Bauchop Hill. Just five days later he was admitted to [hospital] at Anzac, suffering from synovitis, then transferred to Mudros. Having returned from there on 20 September, he was then admitted at West Mudros with arthritis on 19 October. Transferred to England per the Hospital Ship “Aquitania” on 23 November, he was admitted to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham on 3 December 1915. After being attached A class at Grey Towers (Hornchurch) on 12 January 1916, he left to rejoin his Unit on active service in Egypt on 16 February 1916 and was transferred to the New Zealand Field Artillery (9th Battalion) at the beginning of March. But eight days later he was transferred back to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles and the next day posted to the 8th Mounted Rifles. On 13 April 1916 he was promoted to Sergeant.

As of 18 October 1916, he was to be Squadron Quarter Master Sergeant, the appointment being confirmed later in October. He was at that time in Egypt. On 29 December 1916 he departed for England as a nominee for an Imperial Commission, having been nominated by Lieutenant-General Godley, and was Struck off the Strength of his Regiment. Posted from the Canterbury Mounted Rifles to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, he was taken on Strength at Moascar on 30 December 1916 and was to proceed overseas. He embarked for England, however, returning to headquarters of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Cairo on 2 January 1917. He was taken on Strength at Codford from Egypt on 1 February 1917, then went to the Reserve Group at Sling on 28 April. Confirmed in a Commission on 30 April in England, he marched out to the Cavalry Cadet Squadron at Kildare on 8 May 1917. Discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the U.K. on 24 September 1917, he was transferred to the Imperial Establishment and posted to the Essex Yeomanry.

On 14 February 1919, in England, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, supplementary to Establishment. All in all, John Rix Whitta served with the New Zealand Forces in Gallipoli and Mudros and in Egypt until September 1917 and was awarded the 1914-15 Star. For his subsequent service with the 6th Dragoons, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal by the Imperial authorities. On 23 June 1922 a communication was sent from the N.Z.E.F. War Accounts and Record Office in Wellington to the War Office in London – No. 7/145, W.O. Class .. (rank), John Rix Whitta, has by service in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from 13/8/1914 to 24/9/1919 qualified for the award of 1914-15 Star, which has been administered by this office. His latest known address is Methwold, Stoke Teary, Norfolk, England. The following information is required: - (Medals and Clasps for which he is eligible: - For . . . . Service Imp. Forces (Cavalry?). The reply noted that 2/Lt. J. R. Whitta, in respect of his service n 6th Dragoons from 15.5.18 to 11.11.18 was eligible for the award of BW & VM which will be administered by this Department. (The British War Medal and Victory medal which had been issued by the N.Z. Government were to be returned.)

So, John Rix Whitta settled back in his homeland. He married Phyllis May Allen on 23 November 1923 at Methwold, Norfolk. Their daughter, Joyce Elizabeth Agnes Whitta, was born in 1925, and their son, Rex Alfred Rought Whitta, in 1928. In 1939 John, his wife Phyllis and children were living at Ely, Cambridgeshire, where John was an income tax collector. John Rix Whitta died on 10 July 1954 at 41 Prickwillow Road, Isle of Ely, aged 68 years. Phyllis lived on till 1984 and was cremated at Hendon, London.

Intercessory services on behalf of the War were conducted at St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Waimate, on 1 August 1915. ‘In the morning the subject of discourse was “Sacrifice,” and in the evening the preacher traced the hand of God in the history of the British Empire. At the close of the service the members of the other congregations in town united with the St. Paul’s congregation in a season of intercession. Earnest prayers were offered on behalf of the nation by various members, . . . . . There was a large attendance, the body of the Church being completely filled, and a very earnest spirit prevailed. The choir rendered admirable service. The “Roll of Honour” containing the names of those connected with the Church in the circuit who are now with the colours was unveiled at the morning service, the names being read out at both services.’ Included in the list was Corporal J. R. Whitta, seemingly his last association with Waimate and South Canterbury.

A photograph of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles in Egypt, printed in the Otago Witness on 28 March 1917, included Q.M.S. Whitta.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [04 March 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5557 0121852) [12 March 2017]; 1891, 1901, 1911 census returns for Methwold, Norfolk, England (ancestry.com.au) [06 March 2017]; Waimate Daily Advertiser, 12 & 27 August 1914, 18 September 1914, 2 August 1915, Timaru Herald, 15 August 1914, 19 September 1914, Press, 24 August 1914, 18 September 1914, 22 December 1915, Sun, 5 September 1914, Evening Post, 20 March 1917, 13 July 1918, Otago Daily Times, 24 March 1917, Auckland Star, 24 March 1917, Otago Witness, 28 March 1917 (Papers Past) [04 & 06 March 2017; 29 October 2020; 16 July 2023; 11 June 2024]; ancestry.com.au records [05 March 2017; 11 June 2024]; Free BDM records [05 March 2017]; 1939 England Register (ancestry.com.au) [20 June 2018]; Methwold, Norfolk electoral rolls (ancestry.com.au) [11 June 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• WHITTA John Rix - Record, photo (pdf, 567.5 KB updated 25-Oct-2024)

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