Arthur White

Arthur White was born in 1894 the son of George a wheelwright and Mary Ann White née Bradley of 21 Wilton Street Old Basford Nottingham. He was educated at University College Nottingham where he joined the OTC. George was born in 1856 at Basford and Ann Mary Bradley was born in 1857 at East Bridgford, they were married in 1885 their marriage was recorded in the Basford registration district, they had a further son John George born 1886. In the 1911 census the family are living at 21 Wilton Street, Basford, Nottingham, George 55 yrs is a wheelwright he is living with his wife Ann Mary 54 yrs and their 2 sons John George 25 yrs a joiner and Arthur 17 yrs a pupil teacher.

He had been teaching at Haydn Road School Nottingham for about a year before enlisting.

White enlisted during early November 1915. His initial training was at Withnor Camp, Cornwall. Serving with 91st Siege Battery, White spent the first part of 1916 training at Lydd near Dungeness in Kent. On May 4th the unit relocated by rail to Bristol in preparation for overseas service. The battery was led by a major commanding a captain, three lieutenants and 154 o/rs who combined to operate four 9.2” howitzers. In production since July 1914, this weapon’s three sections weighed fifteen and a half tons and, such was its recoil, that a box containing a further nine tons of earth was bolted on the front as the gun was being positioned. The 9.2” howitzer fired 290lb shells 10,050 yards. Like most British reinforcements in the summer of 1916, 91st Siege Battery was bound for the Somme assembling its four weapons, in the first instance, at Pommier where, with ‘gun platforms at a true bearing of 127 degrees’, the unit first went into action on June 4th. During Arthur White’s five and a half months’ service his battery moved to Coignieux and then Mailly Maillet. Observation posts seem to have been established at Hebuterne and Sailly-au-Bois and targets included Gommercourt (where many Sherwood Foresters from139th Brigade died on July1st), Grandcourt and Beaumont Hamel. German retaliatory fire seems to have become more accurate and on November 2nd, while the battery was in action, an enemy shell ignited 616 rounds of NCT. Eleven days later (November13th,) 'at 12 noon, Acting Bombardier A. White and Private Allardyce [N/T CWGC], the battery wireless operator, were killed by a shell in Mailly.’ He is buried in Maily Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet (grave ref. i.B.8). Six months after his death, a commemoration of Arthur White was enacted at his former school. Education Committee chairman ‘Alderman Houston visited the school at 9.30am,’ wrote the head, ‘and unveiled a large photograph of the late Mr Arthur White formerly a member of the staff of this school who died of wounds in France. Mr Houston addressed the boys on the lessons of patriotism and devotion to duty as shown in the life of Mr White. The enlarged photograph was presented to the school by Mr White’s parents and framed by the school.’

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Rest in peace' Source: Britannia Calls; Nottingham schools and the push for Great War victory by David Nunn In memoriam published 13th November 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WHITE. – In loving memory of Bomdr. Arthur White, R.G.A., taken from us November 13th, 1916. A year ago and scarce it seems, and hardly ever now can we realise that one we loved so much was called upon to pay the great sacrifice. Hard, aye; his memory, thought the very thought of such a friend, with a character so rare, dims our eyes. Yet there is a happiness of speaking of good old Blanco as having once been amongst us, for he has now life for ever more. – From his comrades in France. “WHITE. – In ever-loving memory of our dear son, Bomdr. Arthur White, R.G.A., killed in France November 13th, 1916. True hearts fondly remember the clasp of a hand that is gone. – Sorrowing mother and father. “WHITE. – In ever-loving memory of our dear brother, Bomdr. Arthur White, R.G.A., killed in France November 13th, 1916. His voice is stilled, his presence missed by all who held him dear, no more earth's troubles he will bear; his cross by Christ is taken o'er, and now is safe on God's own shore. – From brother and sister-in-law. “WHITE. – In affectionate remembrance of Bomdr. Arthur White, R.G.A., killed in France November 13th, 1916. Day by day oh! how we miss him, words would fail our loss to tell, but in Heaven we hope to meet him, happy there with Christ to dwell. – His ever-loving fiancée Flossie Beesley and family.” Above in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918