Osmar White
Encyclopedia
Osmar Egmont Dorkin White (2 April 1909 – May 1991) was an Australian journalist
, war correspondent
and writer. He is most famous for his vivid description of the New Guinea Campaign
during World War II
. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Robert Dentry, EM Dorkin, and Maros Gray.
, White moved with his family to Australia at age five and spent his childhood in Katoomba
.
, New South Wales
, before moving to the Wagga Wagga Advertiser. He also wrote for the Sydney Daily Telegraph as a district correspondent while studying at the University of Sydney
. From 1928 to 1933, he worked as a freelance writer in South and Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea
and published dozens of short stories in The Australian Journal, The Bulletin and magazines in the United Kingdom.
in 1942, before becoming an accredited war correspondent with the Australian forces there. Together with Australian war photographer Damien Parer
and war correspondents Chester Wilmot
and George Johnston (novelist)
, White covered the Kokoda Track Campaign
, detailing the trials and triumphs of Allied troops during that time. He was seriously wounded during the New Georgia campaign and, while recovering in Australia, he wrote Green Armour, which described in detail the harsh conditions of the jungle fighting in the Kokoda Track Campaign. It was the combined writings and testimony of White, Johnston, Wilmot and Parer that led to the Allies adopting mottled green camouflage uniforms for troops engaging in jungle warfare.
Herald and Weekly Times chairman Sir Keith Murdoch
, (father of future media magnate Rupert Murdoch
), highly impressed by White's writing ability, promoted him to one of the Heralds top correspondent positions and sent him to Europe to cover the Western Front
. White was one of the few Australian journalists attached to the Supreme Allied Command (SHAEF)
, and was present during the Allied liberation of Paris
. He was later attached to General George Patton's Third Army, and followed it into Germany during the final days of the war in Europe. He was the only Australian journalist present at the German surrender at Reims
, France, in 1945 and one of the first journalists to enter war-torn Berlin.
. Following his retirement from journalism in 1963, he wrote a number of books, including a history of Papua New Guinea, a successful series of children's books, one novel, radio and television scripts and occasional contributions to various newspapers and magazines.
He died in Melbourne in May 1991.
in 2003. It is a unique work in that it provides a first-hand account by an accredited war correspondent of the final days of Hitler's regime.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
and writer. He is most famous for his vivid description of the New Guinea Campaign
New Guinea campaign
The New Guinea campaign was one of the major military campaigns of World War II.Before the war, the island of New Guinea was split between:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He also wrote under the pseudonyms Robert Dentry, EM Dorkin, and Maros Gray.
Early life
Born in Feilding, New ZealandFeilding, New Zealand
Feilding is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 54, 20 kilometres north of Palmerston North....
, White moved with his family to Australia at age five and spent his childhood in Katoomba
Katoomba, New South Wales
Katoomba is the chief town of the City of Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia and the administrative headquarters of Blue Mountains City Council. It is on the Great Western Highway 110 kilometres west of Sydney and 39 kilometres south-east of Lithgow. Katoomba railway station is on the...
.
Professional background
He began his career as a journalist with the Cumberland Times in ParramattaParramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, before moving to the Wagga Wagga Advertiser. He also wrote for the Sydney Daily Telegraph as a district correspondent while studying at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. From 1928 to 1933, he worked as a freelance writer in South and Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and published dozens of short stories in The Australian Journal, The Bulletin and magazines in the United Kingdom.
World War II
White was a journalist with The Herald and Weekly Times during the Japanese invasion of Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
in 1942, before becoming an accredited war correspondent with the Australian forces there. Together with Australian war photographer Damien Parer
Damien Parer
Damien Peter Parer was an Australian war photographer. He became famous for his war photography of the Second World War, and was killed by Japanese machinegun fire at Peleliu, Palau. He married Elizabeth Marie Cotter on 23 March 1944, and his son, producer Damien Parer, was born after his father...
and war correspondents Chester Wilmot
Chester Wilmot
Reginald William Winchester Wilmot was an Australian war correspondent who reported for the BBC and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation during the Second World War. After the war he continued to work as a broadcast reporter, and wrote a well-appreciated book about the liberation of Europe...
and George Johnston (novelist)
George Johnston (novelist)
George Johnston OBE was an Australian journalist, war correspondent and novelist, best known for My Brother Jack. His second wife and literary collaborator was Charmian Clift.-Life:...
, White covered the Kokoda Track Campaign
Kokoda Track campaign
The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
, detailing the trials and triumphs of Allied troops during that time. He was seriously wounded during the New Georgia campaign and, while recovering in Australia, he wrote Green Armour, which described in detail the harsh conditions of the jungle fighting in the Kokoda Track Campaign. It was the combined writings and testimony of White, Johnston, Wilmot and Parer that led to the Allies adopting mottled green camouflage uniforms for troops engaging in jungle warfare.
Herald and Weekly Times chairman Sir Keith Murdoch
Keith Murdoch
Sir Keith Arthur Murdoch was an Australian journalist and the father of Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and Chairman of News Corp.-Life and career:Murdoch was born in Melbourne in 1885, the son of Annie and the Rev...
, (father of future media magnate Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
), highly impressed by White's writing ability, promoted him to one of the Heralds top correspondent positions and sent him to Europe to cover the Western Front
Western Front (World War II)
The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...
. White was one of the few Australian journalists attached to the Supreme Allied Command (SHAEF)
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force , was the headquarters of the Commander of Allied forces in north west Europe, from late 1943 until the end of World War II. U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower was in command of SHAEF throughout its existence...
, and was present during the Allied liberation of Paris
Liberation of Paris
The Liberation of Paris took place during World War II from 19 August 1944 until the surrender of the occupying German garrison on August 25th. It could be regarded by some as the last battle in the Battle for Normandy, though that really ended with the crushing of the Wehrmacht forces between the...
. He was later attached to General George Patton's Third Army, and followed it into Germany during the final days of the war in Europe. He was the only Australian journalist present at the German surrender at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, France, in 1945 and one of the first journalists to enter war-torn Berlin.
Retirement years
After the war, White returned to Australia and the Melbourne Herald as a senior writer, specializing in the Pacific and Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea. He was the sole Australian press representative on the Australian Antarctic expedition of 1956-57Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition
The 1955–58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition was a Commonwealth-sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica, via the South Pole...
. Following his retirement from journalism in 1963, he wrote a number of books, including a history of Papua New Guinea, a successful series of children's books, one novel, radio and television scripts and occasional contributions to various newspapers and magazines.
He died in Melbourne in May 1991.
Works
In addition to Green Armour, his other major work was Conquerors Road, which recounted his experience as a war correspondent in Europe. However, after having initially set publication dates, publishers in both the US and England refused to publish the book. Although no reason was given at the time, White believed the work, which contained criticism of Allied forces behaviour at both the military and political levels, was too controversial. He was therefore obliged to shelve the book until the 1980s, when he re-edited it and attempted to have it published again. It was finally published by Harper Collins in 1996, and re-published by Cambridge University PressCambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
in 2003. It is a unique work in that it provides a first-hand account by an accredited war correspondent of the final days of Hitler's regime.