Harold White (politician)

Harold Fletcher "Bill" White, CMG, DSO (13 June 1883 – 20 February 1971) was an Australian grazier, soldier and politician.

He was born in Armidale to pastoralist Francis John White and Margaret Fletcher. He was a grazier and partner in the family pastoral company, owning several stations in the New England district. In October 1911 he married Evelyn Augusta Bigg Curtis, with whom he had four children. From 1911 to 1929 he served on Guyra Council. An officer in the Citizens Military Force pre-war, he served with the Australian Imperial Force in the First World War. He reached the rank of lieutenant colonel, commanded the 36th, 33rd and 35th Battalions, was thrice mentioned in despatches, awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1917 and the French Croix de guerre in 1918, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1918. From 1930 to 1932 he was on the executive of the Graziers' Association, and from 1932 to 1934 he was a United Australia Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. He remained active as a Graziers' Association councillor until 1947. White died in Armidale in 1971.[1]