A good Edwardian C.B., Great War C.M.G. group of nine awarded to Hon. Brigadier-General W. L. White, Royal Artillery

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B. (Military) Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, complete with riband buckle; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G. Companion’s breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, complete with riband buckle; Egypt 1882-89, undated reverse, 1 clasp, Suakin 1885 (Capt. W. L. White, 5/1 Sco. Div. R.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (Lt. Col. W. L. White, R.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lt. Col. W. L. White, R.A.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Brig. Gen. W. L. White, C.B.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Brig. Gen. W. L. White); Khedive’s Star 1884-6, together with Royal Artillery Institution Priza Medal, silver (Captain W. L. White, R.A., 1892), the earlier awards with contact marks but otherwise generally very fine or better (10) £1600-1800

C.B. London Gazette 24 June 1910.

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1916.

William Lewis White, who was born in March 1856, was commissioned in the Royal Artillery in February 1876, and first witnessed active service as a Captain in 5/1 Scottish Division, R.A. in the Suakin operations of 1885, when he was present in the advance on 22 March in support of the Tofrek zareba, and in the advance on Tamaai (Medal & clasp; Khedive’s Star).

Appointed an Instructor at the School of Gunnery in 1887, he was awarded the Royal Artillery Institution’s Duncan Prize Essay Gold Medal in the same year, and added the Institution’s Silver Medal to his accolades in 1892. Advanced to Major in the following year, he next served as Brigade-Major, R.A. at Gibraltar and, between 1898-99 as Military Attache in Madrid and Lisbon, the latter appointments gaining him the 2nd Class Spanish Order of Military Merit and the Portuguese Order of Aviz.

Shortly afterwards, however, he was ordered to South Africa as a newly promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, where he was employed as a Special Service Officer, although he also served as Base Commandant at Port Elizabeth (January to February 1900) and Commandant at Naauwpoort and Zand River Camp (February to August 1900). Thereafter, until May 1902, he was actively employed in the Orange River Colony, including the action at Ladybrand (2-7 September 1900), Transvaal and Cape Colony, service that encompassed Command of a Column in the periods August 1900 to June 1901, and August 1901 to May 1902. He was given the Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and twice mentioned in despatches (London Gazettes 16 April and 7 May 1901 refer), in addition to receiving the Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps and the King’s Medal & 2 clasps.

Returning home at the end of hostilities, White took up appointment as D.A.Q.M.G. at Portsmouth, as D.A.A.G. at the War Office in 1903, and, in the rank of substantive Colonel, as Commandant of the School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness in 1909. Latterly an Inspector Royal Garrison Artillery, he was awarded the C.B. in 1910 and placed on the Retired List in the honorary rank of Brigadier-General in March 1913.

Recalled on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, he quickly went out to France as D.A.Q.M.G., IV Corps, and remained employed in that capacity until 1916, adding five more “mentions” to his accolades (London Gazettes 17 February and 22 June 1915, 1 January and 15 June 1916, and 4 January 1917 refer), in addition to his C.M.G.

The General retired to Hove, Sussex, where he died in June 1931, having in the interim added the Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John to his numerous honours.