Death Of Captain “Dick”
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
Whitehouse
MANY “before” Papuan residents will receive with regret the news of the death of Dick Whitehouse, for many years Senior Medical Assistant under the previous Murray Administrations. This romantic and zealous officer, who hac served in both world wars, passed away on March 22, at Springbank Repatriation Hospital, South Australia, after a long and painful illness.
Early training as an art student ir England brought him many successes but his wandering spirit took him event ually to Papua, where in his spare time he produced some beautiful works; hit portrayal of native skin colourings wat unsurpassed. When a competition wa;. held in 1932 for the beautiful pre-wai issue of Papuan stamps, five of his de signs were selected —the 2d., 4d., 6d., 1/* and 10/-.
In the last world war, after the evacua-, tion of most of the whites from the eas< end of Papua, Mr. Whitehouse stayed or and assisted Laurie Henderson in thu “Bronzewing ” to repatriate some 80( native labourers from the Misima gold! fields to their villages in the distam D’Entrecasteaux Group—a task occupyinu many days of hazard.
He also played a dramatic part in thi “capture” of the island of Kiriwina b:< American forces. Great preparation ha', been made; but, when the landing fore: reached its objective and rushed the sanj beach, the tall spare figure of Captai:i Whitheouse, of Angau, strolled down tJ the beach to greet them. He had bee;; sent to take charge of the Trobriam Group some months before, and Intent gence had evidently overlooked the facu On July 4, 1922 he married Miss Lillia:j M. Chenoweth at Oiabia, Papua, and thee have left two children—Joseph, a medics student, and Patricia, a trained nurse.
The natives of Eastern Parma will mis one who gave them splendid service, anr many white residents will regret the pass ing of this kindly man, who so oftes assisted them in times of stress. ACH New Caledonia has contributed 31078 Pacific francs and the New Hebride. 206,920 Pacific francs to the French fum for comforts for French Forces fightira in Indo-China.