Enlisted on 3 December 1917 at Melbourne. Prior to his enlistment he wrote to The Manager, Department of Defence, Woollen Cloth Factory, Geelong to apply for leave of absence. On enlistment gave his occupation as Defence Department employee (civil servant). His next of kin was his wife, Mabel, of Shenstone, Jolimont Street, Jolimont. This address was amended to 86 Powlett Street, East Melbourne in 1919. Had previously belonged to C forces 59 Infantry Geelong (Lieut.). Taller than most, his height was given as 6 feet, with fresh complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. Sent to Broadmeadows Camp before embarking from Sydney on 5 June 1918 per R.M.S. Orontes. Disembarked 11 August 1918. At Tidworth, England, 13 December 1918 to 19 May 1919. Returned to Australia 25 November 1919. Discharged 8 September 1920.
After the war he turned to dairy farming in Foster, South Gippsland. According to a memo notifying Base Records of his change of address in 1920 his property's name was Ferndell Farm. He was declared insolvent in 1926 and moved to Sydney and was described as 'secretary'. Possibly the Latham Withall who was associated with, first, the Victorian Chamber of Manufactures; second, the New South Wales Chamber of Manuractures; and finally, the Associated Chamber of Manufactures. He was secretary of the first two and director of the third, with a career spanning the 1920s to the 1950s.
Note: Shenstone, Jolimont Street was numbered 22 at the time, but the street has since been renumbered. It was on the corner of Charles Street. It has been demolished and is now a block of apartments numbered 54-60.
SB 23/8/13