Benjamin Josiah White

Name

Benjamin Josiah White
1885

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

09/02/1916
30

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Corporal
G/5381
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
13th Bn.
'C' Coy.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

MENIN ROAD SOUTH MILITARY CEMETERY
I. G. 7.
Belgium

Headstone Inscription

"R.I.P."

UK & Other Memorials

Not on the South Mimms memorials

Pre War

Benjamin Josiah WHITE was born in South Mimms, Hertfordshire, in 1885, son of Charles White, an Ironmonger’s Valuer and Harriet Freeman White (nee Goodwin). The eldest of their eight children.


His parents married in December 1882, in Crowland, Lincolnshire.


He was Baptised on 17th October 1886, in Barnet, Herts.


1891 Census records Benjamin aged 6, living with his Mother Harriet, three sisters, Harriet (3), Edith (2) and Juliana (1) at 4 High Road, Tottenham, Middx. His Grandmother Mary Goodwin and his Aunt Madeline Goodwin are living with the family. No Census record for his father Charles was found.


1901 Census, Benjamin (16) is employed as an Apprentice Ironmonger, he is living with his parents, six sisters and brother Charles (3) at 288 West Green Road, Tottenham, Middx. His Grandmother Mary Goodwin, Aunt Madeline Goodwin, Cousins William and Minnie Goodwin are all living with the family.


His father Charles White died before 1911. 1911 Census records Benjamin (26), employed as a Clerk at the Gas Company, living with his widowed mother, five sisters and brother Charles (13), at 142 Boundary Road, Tottenham, Middx. 

Wartime Service

Benjamin enlisted at Tottenham, Middx, posted to the Duke of Cambridges Own (Middlesex Regiment) and issued with the service number G/5381. On completion of his training, he went to France on 25th September 1915. Seeing action on the Western front, he was Killed in Action on 9th February 1916, aged 30. He is buried in the Menin Road South Military Cemetery in Belgium. Grave Ref: I. G.7.

Additional Information

His mother Harriet was awarded a Dependents Pension of 5/- a week from 7th November 1916, and his effects of £7-18s-08d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £6.


His Headstone inscription. “R.I.P” was requested by his mother Harriet White.


His brother Charles White enlisted in November 1915, aged 17, and posted to the Army Reserve. He was mobilised for war service in May 1916, posted to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and issued with the service number 34444. Charles survived the war and was discharged on 23rd October 1919.

Acknowledgments

Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild