Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Ashley William Whitney
Ancestor's date of birth: 29/09/1881
Ancestor's date of death: 18/05/1977
Cause of Death: Old Age
Service Number: 829
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Parramatta
Unit: New South Wales Lancers
Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: 23/02/1899 (when he joined the Regiment from the Lancer Cadets)
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): WO1, Date Effective: 01/01/1935
Murray Page: 12
Contingent: First New South Wales
Ship: SS Ninevah Date of Sailing: 03/03/1899 to the UK
Ship: SS Nivevah Date of Sailing: 11/10/1899 to Capetown
Memorial details: New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum, Parramatta NSW
Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with Paardeberg, Cape Colony, Relief of Kimberley, Dristontein clasps. Long Service in Colonial Auxialiary Forces Medal, Effeciency Medal, King George V Sliver Jubilee Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Fine soldier well respected by all.
Reasons to go and fight: A serving Lancer training in England just prior to the war.
Details of service in war: From November 1899 in northern Cape Colony, Free State, and east Transvaal; with French's cavalry division from relief of Kimberley (February 1900) to sweep to Heidelberg (October 1900). Invalided to Australia from South Africa arriving 13 November 1900.
Service and life after the Boer War: Saw no further active service, however, continued to serve in the New South Wales Lancers. Had the distinction of as a Warrant Officer Class Two of carrying the Regiment's Boer War King's Banner when it was laid up and the Regiment's Guidon at the opening of Parliament House Canberra in 1927. He retired from the Regiment on 31 August 1935 as an honorary Warrant Officer Class One and senior Warrant Officer in the Australian Military Forces. When he left the Regiment, the small arms trophy was named after him. He continued to present this on the Regiment's annual birthday parade until shortly before his death. In 1974, the City of Parramatta granted him the rare honour of "Freedom of the City".
The King's Banner is on display at the NSW Lancers Museum, Parramatta; the Guidon laid up at St John's Cathedral, Parramatta NSW.
Use the play button above to see Ash Whitney talk about his experiences as a soldier.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Max Whitney, Mullaley NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: SonName of Descendant: Joyce Greenaway, Holt ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: DaughterName of Descendant: Patricia Joy Barnes, Macquarie ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand daughterName of Descendant: Dennis Coleman, San Remo NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: GrandsonName of Descendant: Kim Dawson, Gunnedah NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand daughterName of Descendant: Sam Dawson, Gunnedah NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grandsonName of Descendant: Ashley Whitney, Mullaley NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: GrandsonName of Descendant: Laura Whitney, Mullaley NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grand daughterName of Descendant: Bill Whitney, Mullaley NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grandsonName of Descendant: Grant Whitney, Coonabarabran NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: GrandsonName of Descendant: Thomas Whitney, Coonabarabran NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grandsonName of Descendant: Hamish Whitney, Coonabarabran NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grandsonName of Descendant: Nicholas Whitney, Coonabarabran NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grandsonName of Descendant: Jennifer Dawson, Macquarie ACT
Relationship to Ancestor: Great grand daughterName of Descendant: Glenn Dennis Coleman, Berkeley Vale NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great GrandsonName of Descendant: Jack Glenn Coleman, Berkeley Vale NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great GrandsonName of Descendant: Zoe Sandra Coleman, Berkeley Vale NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great GranddaughterName of Descendant: Nadene Chivers, Penshurst NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great GranddaughterName of Descendant: Liam Chivers, Penshurst NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great GrandsonName of Descendant: Olivia Jane Chivers, Penshurst NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Great Great Granddaughter
