Henry James Whitefield was born in Hobart, TAS and was a Labourer in Ballarat when he enlisted in the 39th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement on 4 March 1916 at the age of 44. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board RMS Orontes on 16 August 1916. The cold of an English winter immediately aggravated his rheumatism and after a period of assessment and treatment he was deemed to be unfit for active service. It was also revealed that he had falsified his age at enlistment; he was 51 not 44 years of age. He returned to Australia in November 1917 and was discharged as æmedically unfit – chronic rheumatism and age'.
Tree No. 2711