Name
William Henry White
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/09/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
91895
Durham Light Infantry
15th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GOUZEAUCOURT NEW BRITISH CEMETERY
I. F. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Ashridge Park memorial is not readable, Not on the Little Gaddesden memorials, Not on the Frithsden memorials, We are not aware of any memorial in Ringshall
Pre War
The CWGC record William Henry as the son of Samuel and Mary White, of Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted, Herts., and husband of Elizabeth Ann White, of Thunderdell Lodge, Ashridge Park, Aldbury, Tring, Herts.
He married Elizabeth Ann Woodhams (b 18/8/1876) on 29 April 1905 and in the marriage documents it was confirmed that William was living in Little Gaddesden, and that his father, Samuel, was a gamekeeper, as was William. They went on to have five children: Wesley Allan (b10/5/1906), Grace Mary (b 6/12/1907), William Samuel George (b 1/11/1909), Florence Elizabeth (b 23/8/1911) and Francis Wallbridge (b 24/8/1914).
The SDITGW database suggest that he was born in Berkhamsted, Herts. and enlisted there, however this could be the nearest main town and may mean Little Gaddesden or Frithsden.
Trying to locate him in the various census has proved difficult, cross referencing known locations, parents, siblings, jobs etc. mean that none of the families identified fit perfectly. The most likely family seems to be a family living in Frithsden for many of the censuses, however the wife/mother's name is Emma which conflicts with the information held by the CWGC. For this reason we will revisit this information when more is know about his mother.
Wartime Service
His service records suggest that he was transferred between the 11th Royal Fusiliers and then 4th Royal Fusiliers with service numbers 60586 and G/73592 but the order is not clear and possibly relates to his wounding. However, he was transferred to the 15th Durham Light Infantry on 31 March 1918. At that point he was allocate the service number 79746 before re-numbering to 91895.
He enlisted in December 1915 as Private 91895 into the Durham Light Infantry, when he was working as a gamekeeper and living at Keepers House, Ringshall, Berkhamsted. He was described as 35, 5' 10" and of good physical development
Although difficult to read his service records appears to show that he was on mobilised on 7 June 1916 and on Home service (training) to 25 September 1916 and then overseas joining his battalion on 15 October 1916. He sprained his ankle on 17 January 1917 and received treatment until the 29th when he re-joined his battalion, until 13 October 1917, when he returned to England.
He received serious gunshot wounds to knees, chest, neck and thigh (possibly 22 September 1917) and was in the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital between 14 October and 16 November 1917.
He was killed in action 9 September 1918.
Additional Information
After his death, he was recorded as the son of Samuel and Mary White, of Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted, Herts.; husband of Elizabeth Ann White, of Thunderdell Lodge, Ashridge Park, Aldbury, Tring, Herts.
He left all his property and possessions to his wife.
After his death £10 0s 6d was authorised to go to his widow, Elizabeth on 11 January 1919. Later, a war gratuity of £10 was authorised to be paid to her, on 18 December 1919.
His pension cards record Elizabeth his widow as his next of kin/dependant, living at Keepers House, Ringshall, Berkhamsted - later amended to Thunderdell Lodge, Aldbury, near Tring. She was awarded a grant of £10 19 October 1918 and then a pension of 37s 11d a week from 7 April 1919.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
