Name
William Henry White
9 November 1880
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
None
UK & Other Memorials
Little Gaddesden Village Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Little Gaddesden, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour (2018 Revision), Little Gaddesden
Pre War
William Henry White was born on 9 November 1880 in Frithsden, the son of William and Elizabeth White, one of six children. On the 1881 Census he was living at No. 8 Frithsden, Berkhamsted, Herts with his mother and elder sister Ellen. His father was not at home on Census night.
William was educated at Little Gaddesden School from 1 June 1885. Sadly his mother died from consumption in 1889, aged 35, but his father remarried to Emma Smith at St Mary the Virgin at Edlesborough on 29 June 1890 and on the 1891 Census William was living with his father and stepmother at Covetous Corner, Hudnall, with three of his siblings. However, his sister Lydia was living with grandparents in Dorchester and his brother Reginald was with an aunt and uncle in Dorset.
On the 1901 Census he was living with his father, stepmother and siblings Wesley and Annie at Covetous Corner, Little Gaddesden, Herts where his father was a Gamekeeper and he was working as a Carter on a Farm.
William had become a Gamekeeper on the Ashridge Estate by the time he married Elizabeth Ann Woodhams at All Saints, Banstead, Surrey on 29 April 1905. At the time of the 1911 Census they were living at the Keepers House, Ringshall, Berkhamsted with children Wesley (1906), Grace (1907) and William (1909), They later had Florence (1911) and Francis (1914).
Wartime Service
He attested at Berkhamsted on 6th December 1915 and was mobilised on 29th May 1916. He was posted to the Royal Fusiliers and served in France with 32nd Battalion between 15th October 1916 and 21st September 1917, when he was severely wounded in action with gunshot wounds to the neck, chest and legs. He was initially treated at No. 37 Casualty Clearing Station before being admitted to 18th General Hospital, Camiers, where he stayed until 13th October 1917. He returned to England for further treatment at the 2nd Birmingham War Hospital and remained there until 16 November 1917.
Having recovered, he re-joined the B.E.F. on 30 March 1918 and was transferred to the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
He was killed in action on 9 September 1918, aged 38, at Gouzeaucourt, France during the 100 Days Offensive and is buried in Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, Nord, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £10 and pay owing of £10 0s 6d. She also received a pension of £1 17s 11d a week.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, dacorumheritage.org.uk, hemelatwar.org., littlegaddesdenchurch.org.uk
