FINAL SUCCESS

Grey River Argus, 11 August 1944, Page 7

FINAL SUCCESS

OFFICER’S ATTEMPT TO CLEAR NAME. MELBOURNE, August 9. . Cashiered from the Army in 1916, an Australian Lieutenant has now been proved innocent, and his Character cleared. Lieutenant Arthur Gordon Whitlam, to-day a wellknown businessman, fought for 28 years to secure justice and the restoration. of his good name. He voluntarily waived all claims against the Government.

The story commenced in Egypt, where W'hitlam, a young A.I.F. officer, sent to his father in Melbourne a tin trunk containing what he believed to be articles to which he was lawfully entitled. Customs examination revealed the trunk contained a revolver and field the property of brother officers. A year after tne despatch of the trunk Whitlam was court-martialled near the front line in France, and being found guilty on certain charges, was cashiered. Whitlam, whose batman deserted tne A.I.F. after the trial, and still remains abroad, repeatedly sought to have the case re-opened. For the defence, it had been contended that Whitlam himself had not packed the trunk, and had no knowledge that it contained certain stolen items. In 1926 he made a special trip to South Africa, located his former batman, and succeeded in obtaining additional evidence. It was then recommended that he be offered a pardon, but Whitlam refused the offer and maintained his fight to ' clear his good name. This has now been done, after the case received the most exhaustive examination by a panel of leading King’s Counsel. The conviction has been expunged from the records and Whitlam’s name placed on the officers’ reserve as from 8/6/1916.