| Regimental number | 3 |
| Place of birth | Quorn, South Australia |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Occupation | Salesman |
| Address | Methodist Manse, Totting Hills, Henley Beach Road, West Adelaide, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 19 |
| Height | 5' 6" |
| Weight | 127 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Rev. T G White, Methodist Manse, Totting Hills, Henley Beach Road, West Adelaide, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Served in 78th Infantry, Citizen Military Forces, for 3 months; still serving at time of AIF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Morphettville, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 3rd Infantry Brigade, Headquarters |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A12 Saldanha on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 10th Battalion |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Listed [surname recorded as POLAINE] on Clarkson Ltd Roll of Honor (design commissioned but never made): watercolour painting now held in the State Archives of South Australia. The Roll takes the form of a stained glass window headed 'The Great War 1914-1919', with a dedication: 'In Memory of Employees of CLARKSON Ltd who fell in the Great War and in honour of those who left Australia to serve with the Australian Imperial Forces.' The Roll of names is surrounded by scrolls listing major battles, most of which are misspelled: Courtenay's Post, Passchendael, Bullencourt, Poziers, Villers Brettonneux. |
| Medals |
Military Medal Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 109 Date: |
| Discharge date | |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Appointed Lance Sergeant, Gallipoli, 6 July 1915. Transferred from Postal Corps (attached Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Brigade) to 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters Clerical Staff. Admitted to 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, 13 September 1915, and transferred to 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station; transferred to Alexandria (pyrexia) and admitted to 13th General Hospital, 19 September 1915; discharged, 9 October 1915. Admitted to 1st Australian General Hospital, Cairo, 9 October 1915 (enteric); transferred to Australian Enteric Convalescent Camp, Port Said, 2 November 1915. Commenced return to Australia from Suez on board HT 'Wandilla', 13 December 1915. Embarked Adelaide, 12 August 1916, om board HT 'Ballarat'; disembarked Plymouth, England, 20 September 1916. Marched in to No 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, 13 October 1916. Found guilty, No 4 Command Depot, Wareham, 28 March 1917, of (1) being absent without leave from noon, 25 March, to 8 am, 26 March 1917; (2) neglecting to obey orders re train travelling: severely reprimanded, and forfeited 2 days' pay under Royal Warrant. Proceeded overseas to France, 16 July 1917; taken on strength, 3rd Infantry Brigade Headquarters, 4 August 1917. Transferred to 10th Bn, 10 November 1917. Admitted to 3rd Australian Field Ambulance, 14 December 1917 (septic left knee), and transferred to 10th Stationary Hospital, St Omer, 14 December 1917; discharged to 7th Convalescent Hospital, Boulogne, 8 January 1918; rejoined 10th Bn, in the field, 5 February 1918. On leave to United Kingdom, 31 August 1918; rejoined Bn, in the field, from leave, 19 September 1918. On leave to United Kingdom, 31 August 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 19 September 1918. Awarded Military Medal. Promoted Company Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class II), 14 September 1918. Promoted Temporary Regimental Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class I), 1 November 1918. Detached to School of Instruction, 6 November 1918; rejoined 10th Bn, 18 November 1918. On leave to Paris, 31 December 1918; rejoined Bn from leave, 13 January 1919. Proceeded to United Kingdom for return to Australia, 3 April 1919; disembarked Southampton, 4 April 1919. Commenced return to Australia from Liverpool on board HT 'Nestor', 20 May 1919; disembarked Adelaide, 29 June 1919; discharged (termination of period of enlistment), 29 August 1919. Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Date of death | |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, WHITE Reginald Tasman |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
