Charles Robert Whyte was born 7 June,1889, son of George Whyte and Hannah nee Cherry and they lived in the Cust area of Canterbury in New Zealand. Charles Robert Whyte had 13 other brothers and sisters and later a step- sister. After George's death Hannah remarried widower William BROWN and they moved to the Taranaki area finally settling in Straford. Some of the older children of George and Hannah stayed in the South Island and others came north about 1903- 1904. The family separated throughout New Zealand and it was not until researching the family that we became away that there was such a large family.

Until recently I had not been able to find any further information on Charles Robert WHYTE execept that he had attended school in Cust, Canterbury, New Zealand Recently I found information in Taranaki Puke Ariki records that a Charles Robert WHYTE had been a member of the 11th Taranaki Rifles from 1905- 1907. He is identified as being a groom. It would appear from this that it is possible that he mayhave come North with his Mother and siblings.

My grandfather and another brother were Mounted Riflemen with the New Zealand forces during WW1. Most of the brothers who came up to Stratford saw action in either of the two wars. Family verbal history states that there may have been a brother killed at Gallopi but searches to date do not confirm this. While a Charles Robert WHYTE was killed at Gallipoli this is not our family member. His step-sister Margaret Brown born 1904 when I met her in the late 1980's thought he may have gone across to Australia so it may be possible that our search maybe in Australia.