Name
Basil Stewart White
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/50193
Royal Fusiliers *1
23rd (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Much Hadham Village Memorial, St Andrew’s Church Memorial, Much Hadham, Stone Bench Plaque, Much Hadham, Congregational Church Memorial, Hadham Cross, Not on the Little Hadham memorials
Pre War
Basil was born at Bocking.
Wartime Service
23rd Royal Fusiliers War Diary Extract: 17th Feb 1917 - Attack Zero, 5.45. Casualties 240: Officers - 5 killed, 4 wounded, 1 missing. Other ranks - 30 killed, 165 wounded, 32 missing.
Battle History Notes: The 23rd Royal Fusiliers were part of 3 divisions that attacked the German line at Miraumont. The 23rd Royal Fusiliers objective was Hill 130. The ground over which the men were to attack was heavily frozen due to 5 weeks of freezing conditions, so it was decided that the rate of advance for the first 100 yards would be 3 minutes and 4 minutes per 100 yards afterwards. However, the day before the attack a thaw occurred, which made the creeping artillery barrage that the soldiers were to follow inaccurate. The ground had become very slippery and with the early morning mist and battle smoke the soldiers lost their way and became scattered. The attack faltered and a German counter attack inflicted many casualties and pushed the British back. Shortly after the attack the Germans, as planned, withdrew to the Hindenburg line.
Additional Information
*1 Believed
more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, “Lest We Forget – Much Hadham 1914-18” by Richard Maddams (Much Hadham Forge Museum)
