Name
Lionel John White
1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
CH/16412
Royal Marine Light Infantry
1st R.M. Bn. Royal Naval Division.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TRANCHEE DE MECKNES CEMETERY, AIX-NOULETTE
H. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial,
All Saints Church Memorial, Hertford,
Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Hitchin Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
Lionel’s service record gives his birth date as 5 July 1891(*1) and that he was born in Gloucester. He was baptised on 8 January 1899, when he was 7, in St James’ Church, Gloucestershire. His parents were Alexander John and Annetta Louise White (nee Leich)who had married in that church on 25 August 1890.
In 1901 the family were living at Wesleyan Chapel, Alkerton, Eastington, Gloucestershire. Present were both parents: Alexander (36) and Annetta (31), with Alexander working as a baker. Their children were: Lionel John White (9) and Norton W (2). Also present was John White (69) - father a retired baker.
In 1911, Lionel waws listed as 19 and a Private in the Royal Marines. He was listed on the census as aboard the 1st Class Cruiser, Endymion in Sheerness Harbour.
Lionel enlisted in London on 24 May 1909, and he had been a scientific instrument maker and first records his father as Alex John White as next of kin, living at Orchard Poultry Farm, Arbury Road, Cambridge, however this was amended to his mother, Annette, at Theydon Cottage, Hessney Street, Epping, Essex. At that time he was described as 5’ 6 ½” tall, with a fresh complexion, light brown hair and grey eyes.
His pre-war service includes Recruitment Depot at Deal from 24/5/1909 to 11/5/1910, then Chatham to 8/11/1910, he then embarked on HMS Endymion to 25/6/1912, Jupiter to 8/1/1913, back at Chatham to 18/2/1913 when he embarked on Agamemnon to 12/3/1914, Cormorant to 25/5/1914 them back on and was on that ship when war was declared.
Wartime Service
After war was declared he remained on HMS Agamemnon to 14 December 1914 when he returned to Chatham. At that time the HMS Agamemnon was one of two Lord Nelson-class pre-dreadnought battleships launched in 1906 and completed in 1908 as assigned to the Channel Fleet.
He remained in Chatham to 1 April 1915 and then Lionel embarked on the HMS Vulcan to 4 July 1915, that ship was a British torpedo boat depot ship launched in 1889, later converted to a submarine tender in 1908-09 and then served as a training hulk.
He returned to Chatham to 24 September 1915, when he embarked with the Victory Royal Marine Brigade, meaning a Royal Naval Division, joining his Battalion at Cape Helles (Gallipoli) on the 22nd.. It is difficult to establish his subsequent service but from his death and burial he served on the Western Front in France in the 1st Royal Marine Light Infantry Battalion in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division being part of the 188th Brigade.
He is buried in Row H, Grave 8 in Tranchee de Mecknes Cemetery, Aix-Noulette in France about five miles west of Arras and three miles south west of Lens.
Additional Information
*1 1891 is correct, but he may have lied about his age as his records show that he forfeited 42 service as he was underage to 4 July 1909.
After his death, his mother’s address was given as 50 Ickleford Road, Hitchin, Herts
A war gratuity of £10 was paid on 31 May 1920
Service Number: CWGC gives his service number as CH/16412, his service record confirms 16412. His pension cards gives his service number as C/216412 (possibly C/2 18412), also one gives John Lionel rather that Lionel John – both give his mother as Mrs A Louisa White Blackfields Poultry Farm, Mangrove Lane, Hertford
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
