Corporal Lawrence Carthage Weathers VC (1890-1918, 28yo)

Lawrence Weathers was born in Te Kopuru, New Zealand on 14 May 1890. At the age of seven, he emigrated to Australia with his family, settling in South Australia. After completing his education, he worked as an undertaker.

Weathers enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 3 February 1916 and was posted to the 3rd Battalion, deploying in June that year. He was wounded on 10 June 1917 during operations at Messines and evacuated for treatment, rejoining his unit in December. Promoted to Lance Corporal on 21 March 1918, he was gassed two months later at Villers-Bretonneux, but again returned to duty within a month.

Following the successful capture of Mont St Quentin, the 43rd Battalion was tasked with clearing enemy defences, including barbed wire and fortified positions north of Péronne. Their key objective was the Scutari trench. At 0535 hours, the unit advanced but was stopped by intense enemy fire. From his forward position, Weathers led an assault on the enemy garrison, killing its leader. After resupplying with grenades, he returned to the fight with three comrades. Covered by a Lewis-gun, Weathers climbed the German parapet and threw grenades into the trench with precision and fearlessness. By 0700 hours, the enemy resistance had collapsed. Weathers captured three machine-guns and escorted 180 prisoners back to friendly lines. He was subsequently recommended for the Victoria Cross for his conspicuous bravery.

On 10 September 1918, he was promoted to Corporal. Later that month, the 43rd Battalion was committed to the assault on the Hindenburg Line. At dawn on 29 September, during the engagement, Weathers was struck by shell-fire and fatally wounded. He died later that day and was buried at Unicorn Cemetery in France. His Victoria Cross was posthumously gazetted on 24 December 1918, an honour he did not live to receive.
 

Warrant Officer Class Two Kevin Arthur Wheatley VC (1937-1965, 28yo)

Kevin Wheatley was born in Surry Hills, New South Wales on 13 March 1937. After completing his schooling, he worked in a variety of labouring jobs, including as a milk carter, food steriliser, machine operator, and brick burner. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 12 June 1956.

Following recruit training, Wheatley was posted to the Royal Australian Infantry and initially joined the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. In March 1957, he transferred to the 3rd Battalion and later served during the Malayan Emergency. His subsequent postings included the 2nd Battalion in August 1959 and the 1st Battalion in June 1961. He was promoted to Sergeant in January 1964 and held the temporary rank of Warrant Officer Class Two by August that year.

Wheatley deployed to Vietnam in March 1965. On 13 November 1965, he was involved in a search and destroy operation in the Tra Bong Valley alongside fellow Australian Warrant Officer Ron Swanton. During the mission, the pair came under heavy enemy fire, and Swanton was critically wounded. Despite being informed that his comrade was beyond saving, Wheatley refused to leave him behind. Under intense fire, he dragged Swanton through exposed rice paddies to the edge of nearby jungle cover.

When urged again to withdraw, Wheatley declined. Instead, he pulled the pins from two grenades and waited beside his motionless colleague as the Viet Cong closed in. Two grenade detonations were heard, followed by automatic gunfire. At dawn the next day, both men were found deceased from gunshot wounds. For his extraordinary courage and refusal to abandon a fellow soldier in the face of overwhelming danger, Wheatley was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
 

Sergeant John Woods Whittle VC, DCM (1882-1946, 63yo)

John Whittle was born on Huon Island, Tasmania on 3 August 1882. He enlisted as a Private in Tasmania's 4th (2nd Imperial Bushman) Contingent during the South African War. His unit arrived in South Africa on 24 April 1901 and engaged in operations in the Cape Colony before returning home in June 1902. Shortly afterwards, Whittle joined the Royal Navy, serving as a stoker for five years before returning to military life in the Permanent Military Forces.

On 6 August 1915, he transferred to the Australian Imperial Force and was promoted to Acting Corporal. In October, he sailed with reinforcements for the 26th Battalion. By April 1916, he had been reassigned to the 12th Battalion and deployed to France. Wounded on 18 June 1916, he was later promoted to Sergeant in October.

In early 1917, during the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, Whittle took part in the fighting near Le Barque and Ligny-Thilloy. On 27 February, his battalion launched a dawn assault, during which Whittle single-handedly attacked a machine-gun post with grenades, forcing the enemy to retreat. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his bravery.

Whittle was again in action during a diversionary attack on Boursies on 9 April 1917, leading his platoon in the initial assault. Facing a fierce German counter-attack, he helped stabilise the forward positions until Captain J.E. Newland arrived to regain lost ground. Days later, on 15 April, during a surprise pre-dawn German offensive near Lagnicourt, 'A' Company was forced back to a sunken road. As the Germans attempted to bring a machine-gun into action, Whittle charged alone across exposed ground, neutralised the crew with grenades, and captured the weapon. For his courage at Boursies and Lagnicourt, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Whittle continued to serve on the Western Front and was wounded during the German spring offensive in March 1918, and again in late July. After returning to Australia, he struggled to find steady employment. He died of a cerebral haemorrhage on 2 March 1946 and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery.

Whittle was one of only two recipients of the Victoria Cross who had been permanent servicemen prior to the First World War.

 Last Reviewed 06/2025