Thomas White

Thomas and his younger brother Charles, who is also commemorated on the memorial in SS Simon & Jude, Rainworth, have been identified as siblings from a WW1 Pension Ledgers card on which both their names appear. According to this record, their parents were Elizabeth White and Henry White. Elizabeth appears to have been the first named next of kin; her address was given on the Pension Ledger as 17 Rainworth Cottages, Rainworth near Mansfield, Notts. However, her name and address was deleted and replaced by that of Henry White, Vicarage Yard, Blidworth, Notts. (Thomas is also commemorated on the Blidworth war memorial on Main Street/Lambley Lane.) Thomas' CWGC record gives only the name of his mother: 'Son of Elizabeth White of 17 2nd Avenue Rainworth Mansfield' while Charles' record names only his father: 'Son of Mr H White of 17 White City Rainworth Mansfield.' According to military records, Thomas was born in Barnsley, Yorkshire, and Charles in Tadworth, Surrey, and this is confirmed on the 1901 and 1911 Census. From information on the census records, Thomas was born in about 1894 and Charles in about 1898. In 1901 Elizabeth White (44) b. Halstead Essex, married, was a lodger in the home of Samuel Stride, a horse keeper, at Railway Huts, Tadworth, Banstead, Epsom, Surrey. With her were her sons Thomas (7) and Charles (3). Elizabeth completed the 1911 Census as head of household. She was widowed and living at 29 College Street, Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, with her sons Thomas (18), a labourer for a timber manufacturer, and Charles (13). Also in the household was a lodger, James Langley (35 b. Paddington) a contractor's labourer. It is likely that both Thomas and Charles moved to Nottinghamshire with their mother as they both enlisted in Mansfield. No records of the registration of the boys' births, their parents' marriage or their parents' deaths have yet been traced.

In 1911 Thomas was a labourer for a timber manufacturer

Residence Rainworth, enlisted Mansfield

Thomas White enlisted at Mansfield and served with the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). He served in France from 17 February 1915; his brother was posted to France six months later in August 1915. There is medical record showing that the month before Thomas died he was admitted to 51st Field Ambulance on 12 March 1916 suffering from scabies and was transferred to 50th Casualty Clearing Station two days later on 14 March; no record of the date of his discharge. Thomas was killed by trench mortar fire on 5th April 1916 while holding Sevastopol Trench, near Lens, France. He was buried in Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France (grave ref. II. H. 26). He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

His brother Charles also served in the Sherwood Foresters (10th Bn), 19528 Lance Serjeant, and died of wounds on 25 October 1918, buried Awoingt British Cemetery (see record on this ROH). CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Rest in the Lord'. There is no personal inscription on the headstone at his brother's grave. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: mother, Elizabeth White, sole legatee