Padre White's lasting legacy

While Albany rector Arthur White may have employed some unconventional practices to deliver a spiritual message, the popular minister firmly established himself in Albany's history and the narrative of Anzac with his claim to have conducted the first dawn service here.

It is a contentious issue and there is little doubt that the notations recorded in the pages of a St John's Church service register gave rise to the start of a legend.

An army captain and chaplain, Arthur Ernest White enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in March, 1916.

Posted to the 44th Battalion, the army padre embarked at Fremantle on June 6 with his battalion of WA recruits.

Sailing for England aboard HMAT Suevic, the battalion undertook further training, proceeding to France in November, 1916.

Born at St Giles, London, in 1883, Padre White studied theology in Yorkshire, graduating from Leeds University in 1906.

Ordained in 1909, he served as a curate in the Anglican diocese of Ripon until 1912, when he left for Australia, disembarking at Albany on October 27.

A priest of the Bush Brotherhood based at the House of Grace in Williams, Padre White travelled across much of the Great Southern.

The Brotherhood of St Boniface was the first to be inaugurated in WA in 1911 and the fourth to be established in Australia.

Troubled by a chronic ear condition since childhood, Padre White had sought relief by emigrating to the warmer climate of Australia.

Free of the discomfort for many years, the bitter winter conditions in the trenches of the Western Front brought the painful condition back in 1916-17, and he transferring to England for recovery.

Posted to the 11th Infantry Brigade headquarters, he was detached to a training battalion before returning to France in the autumn of 1917.

In Armentieres in late November, the condition returned, with the chaplain returning to England, then Australia in 1918 where he was discharged.

While it is recorded Padre White conducted morning services at St John's Anglican Church on Sunday, February 24, 1918, it is understood from collective memory he also held a private Requiem Mass for the families of the battle dead, proceeding with the congregation to Mt Clarence.

From this point, those gathered could observe a wreath being cast from a boat anchored in King George Sound.

Leaving WA in 1918, Padre White was appointed chaplain at the Caulfield Military Hospital.

Marrying Elsie Welman, an army nurse with the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service whom he had met during the war, Padre White remained in the Eastern States, working in the diocese of Melbourne until 1923, when he became archdeacon and vicar at St Peter's, Broken Hill.

Returning to the rectory at St John's, Albany, in 1929, Padre White served in the diocese of Bunbury for nine years.

Elected as canon of St Paul's Cathedral in Bunbury in 1934, recognition was given for his work at St John's, his mission work, his chaplaincy in the AIF and his work as a pioneer bush brother establishing the Brotherhood of St Boniface.

During his tenure at Albany, it is entered in the 1930 church service register on April 25 that the "first dawn service (was) held in Australia".

It remains an enduring legacy of the priest's time here.

White returned to New South Wales in 1938 to take charge of the Parish of Forbes. Losing his wife Elsie in 1952, he retired to Queensland, settling in Herberton in May, 1954, to become the chaplain at St Mary's Girls' School.

He died in the far north Queensland mining town four months later.