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George White (British Army officer)

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Field Marshal Sir George Stuart White, VC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO (6 July 1835 – 24 June 1912) was an officer of the British Army. He was stationed at Peshawar during the Indian Mutiny and then fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and at the Battle of Kandahar in September 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. For his bravery during these two battles, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He went on to command a brigade during the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1886 and became commander of Quetta District in 1889 in which role he led operations in the Zhob Valley and in Balochistan. He was commander of the forces in Natal at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899. He commanded the garrison at the siege of Ladysmith: although instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to surrender the garrison he responded "I hold Ladysmith for the Queen" and held out for another 75 days before being relieved in February 1900. He finished his career as Governor of Gibraltar and then as Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

Field Marshal

Sir George Stuart White

VC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO
Sir George Stuart White
Born(1835-07-06)6 July 1835
Low Rock Castle, Portstewart, Ireland
Died24 June 1912(1912-06-24) (aged 76)
Royal Hospital Chelsea, London, England
Buried
Broughshane Presbyterian Churchyard, County Antrim
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1851–1905
RankField Marshal
CommandsCommander-in-Chief, India
Quetta District
Upper Burma Field Force
2nd Brigade
2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders
Battles / warsIndian Mutiny
Second Anglo-Afghan War
Third Anglo-Burmese War
Mahdist War
Second Boer War
AwardsVictoria Cross
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Member of the Order of Merit
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Other workGovernor of Gibraltar
Governor of Royal Hospital Chelsea

Early career

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White was born at Low Rock Castle, Portstewart, County Londonderry. He was the son of James Robert White of Whitehall, Broughshane, County Antrim, and Frances Ann Stewart (daughter of George Stewart (d.1808), Surgeon-General to the British Forces in Ireland, and his wife Frances Stewart of Killymoon Castle).[1] He was educated at Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire and later at King William's College on the Isle of Man and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[2] He was commissioned an ensign in the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot on 4 November 1853.[3]

White was sent to India in 1854 and, having been promoted lieutenant on 29 January 1855,[4] was stationed at Peshawar during the Indian Mutiny in 1857.[2] He was promoted captain on 10 July 1863[5] and transferred to the 92nd Regiment of Foot on 4 August 1863.[6] He returned to England before being further promoted major on 24 December 1863.[7] After five years in England he went back to India with his regiment in 1868.[7] He was given command of his battalion in 1875 and then fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and at the Battle of Kandahar in September 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.[7]

Victoria Cross

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He was 44 years old when the following deeds took place in Afghanistan for which he was awarded the VC:

For conspicuous bravery during the engagement at Charasiah on 6 October 1879, when, finding that the artillery and rifle fire failed to dislodge the enemy from a fortified hill which it was necessary to capture, Major White led an attack upon it in person. Advancing with two companies of his regiment; and climbing from one steep ledge to another, he came upon a body of the enemy, strongly posted, and outnumbering his force by about 8 to 1. His men being much exhausted, and immediate action being necessary, Major White took a rifle, and, going on by himself, shot the leader of the enemy. This act so intimidated the rest that they fled round the side of the hill, and the position was won. Again, on 1 September 1880, at the battle of Candahar, Major White, in leading, the final charge, under a heavy fire from the enemy, who held a strong position and were supported by two guns, rode straight up to within a few yards of them, and seeing the guns, dashed forward and secured one, immediately after which the enemy retired.[8]

White's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland.[9]

Later career

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Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in February 1881 and promoted to lieutenant colonel on 2 March,[10] White was briefly Military Secretary to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India before being given command of the 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders in October that year.[11] He then joined the staff in Egypt as assistant-adjutant and quartermaster-general in February 1885[12] with promotion to colonel on 2 March 1885.[13]

 
The Relief of Ladysmith. Sir George White greets Major Hubert Gough on 28 February 1900. Painting by John Henry Frederick Bacon (1868–1914)

In September 1885 White was given command of a brigade of the Madras Army[14] and led it as the 2nd Brigade of the British Burma Division[15] during the Third Anglo-Burmese War in November 1885.[16] Promoted to local major general on 1 April 1886,[17] he led the subsequent occupation of Burma as Commander of the Upper Burma Field Force in mid-1886 and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.[18][19] Promoted to the substantive rank of major general on 1 July 1887,[20] he was given command of Quetta District in April 1889 and led operations in the Zhob Valley and in Balochistan.[7][21] In the 1890 New Year Honours List White was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.[22] Upgraded to a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in March 1893,[23] he became Commander-in-Chief, India with the local rank of lieutenant general in April,[24] which was made substantive on 1 April 1895.[25] Made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in June 1897 and a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India the following January,[26][27] White became Quartermaster-General to the Forces in October 1898.[28]

 
George White and staff in Ladysmith

White became commander of the forces in Natal in September 1899[29] at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899.[30] He then withdrew to Ladysmith where he took command of the garrison during the siege of Ladysmith with his aide-de-camp Clive Dixon (later portraying the siege in watercolour): when his position there became untenable he was instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to destroy the guns and surrender the garrison on the best terms he could. White responded "I hold Ladysmith for the Queen" and held out for another four months before the town was relieved in late February 1900. His health greatly reduced, White left the city in early March to recover in more peaceful parts of the colony, before he left Cape Town for the United Kingdom later the same month.[31] For his service in the war he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) later that year,[32] having earlier been made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in May 1900.[33]

White became Governor of Gibraltar in May 1900 and,[34] in that role, was promoted to full general on 9 October 1900 and to field marshal on 8 April 1903.[35][36] In 1905 he was appointed to a Commission of Inquiry into contracts placed with private contractors during the Second Boer War;[37] he was appointed a Member of the Order of Merit later that year.[38] He was Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 17 June 1905[39] until his death there on 24 June 1912.[40] He was buried at Broughshane, a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.[9] A statue of White is currently located at Portland Place, London,[41] while the Sir George White Memorial Flute Band still operates in Broughshane, Ballymena.[42]

White was also honorary colonel of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion the Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry)[43] and, later, of the Gordon Highlanders.[44]

Family

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Statue of White in Portland Place, London

In 1874 White married Amelia Maria Baly, daughter of the Venerable Joseph Baly, Archdeacon of Calcutta, with whom he had one son and four daughters.[7] James Robert (Jack) White, Rose Frances White, May Constance White (Currie), Amy Gladys Stuart White (Lady Napier) and Georgina Mary White. Lady White was invested as a Companion of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India (CI) by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 6 March 1900.[45] In the year after her husband's death their unoccupied house at Englefield Green was badly damaged by suffragette arsonists. Elsie Duval and Olive Beamish were the suspects.[46]

Their son Jack White, after service in the British Army, became an Irish republican and socialist who co-founded the Irish Citizen Army along with James Connolly and James Larkin.[47]

Honours and awards

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White's medals and honours displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum.
Ribbon Description Notes
  Victoria Cross (VC)
  • 1879
  Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)
  • 1897
  Order of Merit (OM)
  • 1905
  Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI)
  • 1898
  Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and St George (GCMG)
  • 1900
  Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)
  • 1893
  Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)
  • 1900
  Indian Mutiny Medal
  Afghanistan Medal
  Kabul to Kandahar Star
  Egypt Medal
  India General Service Medal (1854)
  Queen's South Africa Medal
  • Clasps: Defence of Ladysmith, Elandslaagte
  Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Medal
  King Edward VII Coronation Medal
  King George V Coronation Medal
  Khedive's Star
  Bronze Jubilee Medal for Foreigners
  • Austria-Hungary 1908
Coat of arms of George White
 
Notes
Confirmed by Sir Arthur Vicars, Ulster King of Arms, 29 April 1905.[48]
Crest
On a wreath of the colours a dexter arm embowed vambraced holding in the hand a sprig of three roses slipped seeded and leaved Proper and charged on the elbow with a four leaved shamrock slipped Gules.
Escutcheon
Per fess Argent and Gules in chief six roses three and three of the last barbed and seeded Proper and in base an eagle displayed Or.
Motto
Honeste Parta

References

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  1. ^ Durand, p. 9
  2. ^ a b Heathcote, p. 295
  3. ^ "No. 21491". The London Gazette. 4 November 1853. p. 2961.
  4. ^ "No. 21719". The London Gazette. 25 May 1855. p. 2014.
  5. ^ "No. 22752". The London Gazette. 10 July 1863. p. 3453.
  6. ^ "No. 22759". The London Gazette. 4 August 1863. p. 3905.
  7. ^ a b c d e Heathcote, p. 296
  8. ^ "No. 24981". The London Gazette. 3 June 1881. p. 2859.
  9. ^ a b "Grave location for holders of the Victoria Cross". Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  10. ^ "No. 24944". The London Gazette. 1 March 1881. p. 976.
  11. ^ "No. 25096". The London Gazette. 18 April 1882. p. 1740.
  12. ^ "No. 25469". The London Gazette. 12 May 1885. p. 2160.
  13. ^ "No. 25448". The London Gazette. 3 March 1885. p. 922.
  14. ^ "No. 25561". The London Gazette. 23 February 1886. p. 851.
  15. ^ "No. 25599". The London Gazette. 22 June 1886. p. 2973.
  16. ^ "No. 25599". The London Gazette. 22 June 1886. p. 2965.
  17. ^ "No. 25573". The London Gazette. 30 March 1886. p. 1536.
  18. ^ "No. 25735". The London Gazette. 2 September 1887. p. 4755.
  19. ^ "No. 25650". The London Gazette. 26 November 1886. p. 5975.
  20. ^ "No. 25761". The London Gazette. 25 November 1887. p. 6376.
  21. ^ "No. 25964". The London Gazette. 13 August 1889. p. 4394.
  22. ^ "No. 26008". The London Gazette. 1 January 1890. p. 1.
  23. ^ "No. 26381". The London Gazette. 10 March 1893. p. 1539.
  24. ^ "No. 26405". The London Gazette. 23 May 1893. p. 3002.
  25. ^ "No. 26626". The London Gazette. 21 May 1895. p. 2944.
  26. ^ "No. 26867". The London Gazette. 25 June 1897. p. 3567.
  27. ^ "No. 26928". The London Gazette. 11 January 1898. p. 164.
  28. ^ "No. 27014". The London Gazette. 14 October 1898. p. 5989.
  29. ^ "No. 27117". The London Gazette. 15 September 1899. p. 5693.
  30. ^ Heathcote, p. 297
  31. ^ "Latest intelligence – Cape Colony". The Times. No. 36094. London. 20 March 1900. p. 5.
  32. ^ "No. 27306". The London Gazette. 19 April 1901. p. 2698.
  33. ^ "No. 27192". The London Gazette. 15 May 1900. p. 3070.
  34. ^ "No. 27198". The London Gazette. 1 June 1900. p. 3498.
  35. ^ "No. 27236". The London Gazette. 9 October 1900. p. 6183.
  36. ^ "No. 27547". The London Gazette. 28 April 1903. p. 2693.
  37. ^ "No. 27812". The London Gazette. 30 June 1905. p. 4555.
  38. ^ "No. 27811". The London Gazette. 27 June 1905. p. 4549.
  39. ^ "No. 27813". The London Gazette. 4 July 1905. p. 4631.
  40. ^ "No. 28634". The London Gazette. 9 August 1912. p. 5919.
  41. ^ "Statue in Portland Place". Art & Architecture. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  42. ^ "Sir George White band prepares for Broughshane Remembrance Festival". Ballymena Times. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  43. ^ "No. 26520". The London Gazette. 8 June 1894. p. 3319.
  44. ^ "No. 26884". The London Gazette. 20 August 1897. p. 4673.
  45. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36083. London. 7 March 1900. p. 6.
  46. ^ "chertsey museum". chertseymuseum.org. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  47. ^ "Captain Jack White (1879–1946)". Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  48. ^ "Grants and Confirmations of Arms Vol. J". National Library of Ireland. 23 August 1898. p. 344. Retrieved 27 December 2022.

Sources

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Stuart White.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander-in-Chief, India
1893–1898 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Quartermaster-General to the Forces
1898–1899 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Gibraltar
1900–1905 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea
1905–1912 		Succeeded by
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