Name
Henry (Jack) White
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
29/10/1914
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4851
Scots Guards
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 11
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Flamstead Village Memorial, St Mary the Virgin Church Roll of Honour, Flamstead, St Leonard's Church Roll of Honour, Flamstead, Not on the Markyate memorials
Pre War
John Henry was born in Flamstead .in 1886 to Henry White and Sarah (nee Bandy). He was known to his family as Jack.
On the 1891 Census the family of Parents, John Henry, William (born 1886) and Alfred (born 1890) were living at Flamstead.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, (john) Henry , William, Alfred, Jane (born 1892), Louisa (born 1894), and Arthur (born 1899) were living at Chapel Row, Flamstead.
Henry (as he was known to the Army) attested on 21 Mar 1903 as 4851 Scots Guards.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents (father Henry was a shepherd, John, a bricklayer, Alfred, labourer, Jane & Louisa, both straw hat sewers, and Arthur were living in Flamstead
Wartime Service
Henry was called from Reserve on 5 Aug 1914 and posted to 1st Battalion Scots Guards under his old service number, At the outbreak of the Great War 1st Battalion Scots Guards were based at at Aldershot and as part of 1st (Guards) Brigade 1st Division were deployed to France on 14 Aug 1914 landing at Le Havre. Forming part of the original British Expeditionary Force they moved north and met the advancing Germans at the Battle of Mons (23-24 Aug 1914).
Forced to retreat the BEF and the Division took part in the Battles of the Marne (7-10 Sep), Aisne ( 12- 15 Sep) and as the German Forces retreated the BEF were sent north to the Ypres area and became engaged in the 1st Battle of Ypres (19 Oct-22 Nov 1914). 1st Division including 1 Scots Guard took part in the phases known as the Battles of Langemarck and Gheluvelt 29-31 Oct). Henry was reported killed on 29 Oct 1914 during this last action, his remains were not recovered and his remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £7 18s 9d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, Simon Goodwin, Gareth Hughes, Anne & Gordon Mead
