Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, E.VII.R. (1471 L.Cpl. I. White. 2/V.B. K.O.S.B.) the obverse nearly very fine, the reverse heavily polished, thus fair

Three: Private J. White, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who was was killed in action on ‘the fatal’ 12 July 1915 at Achi Baba, Gallipoli, on which date the 4th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers suffered 302 fatal casualties
1914-15 Star (4436 Pte J. White. K.O Sco: Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (4436 Pte. J. White. K. O. Sco. Bord.) the obverses nearly very fine, the reverses heavily polished, thus fair

Three: Private G. White, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, died of pneumonia on 27 November 1915
1914-15 Star (4435 Pte G. White. K.O Sco: Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (4435 Pte. G. White. K. O. Sco. Bord.) the obverses nearly very fine, the reverses heavily polished, thus fair

Pair: Lance Corporal H. White, King’s Own Scottish Borderers and Canadian Army Service Corps
British War and Victory Medals (35318 Sjt. H. White. C.A.S.C.), together with Silver War Badge, reverse numbered ‘14565’, the obverses nearly very fine, the reverses heavily polished, thus fair (9) £340-380

Isaac White was born in 1854 and in 1902 was living in the High Street, Lauder, Berwickshire, with his wife and seven children. He was employed as a joiner on the Thirlestane Estates and served for at least 20 years and was awarded the Volunteer Force Long Service Medal, per Army Order of January 1909. It was reported in the Southern Reporter of 28 October 1915 that three families in the Royal Burgh of Lauder had received letters from the King congratulating them on their patriotism, one of which was Isaac White, who was congratulated for having five sons and a son-in-law serving and one further son who had given up his position with a view to enlisting. In fact, Isaac White had six sons in service at the time of the Southern Reporter’s article, which omitted Harry White.


John White was born in 1889, in Lauder, Berwickshire, the son of Isaac and Eliza White, of Wyndhead Lodge, Lauder, Berwickshire. He served during the Great War in Gallipoli with 1/4th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers from 4 June 1915. He was killed in action on ‘the fatal’ 12 July 1915 at Achi Baba. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. He is also commemorated on the Lauder War Memorial and St Marys Parish Church War Memorial, Lauder.

The War Record of the 4th Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers refers in great detail to the ‘Fatal 12th’, the first action of the 4th Battalion, in which it was the leading battalion in the successful attack on Turkish trenches in front of Parsons Road and Trotman Road, near Achi Baba. Having taken the first line of Turkish trenches (E10), the battalion found itself covered by machine-gun fire from the right and left as it took the second line of trenches (E11). However, the survivors of the Battalion charged on to the third line (E12) which was found to barely exist, a scratched line in the dust. Having now advanced 400-500 yards the Battalion had advanced too far and had to retire across a killing zone to the captured Turkish second line trenches (E11). Out in the open, with artillery coming from both sides, and Turkish machine-gun and rifle fire coming from all angles, with very little cover, there was a ‘bloodbath’ and the battalion became dispersed to the point that no more than two men of 4th Battalion were seen together in any one place. A casualty list was not compiled until 16 July 1915, and covered 12-15 July 1915, as follows: Officers killed 5, wounded 6 and 7 missing. Other Ranks killed 57, wounded 203 and missing 275. Only 13 men were later found to have been taken POW, meaning that a total of 540 men had become casualties in these few days, more than half the original strength of the Battalion when it left Cambusbarron a few weeks previously.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll notes that the 4th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers suffered 302 fatal casualties in Gallipoli on 12 July 1915.

It seems reasonable to assume that John and George White, who have consecutive service numbers, not only enlisted in 1st/4th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers together but also served together until John’s death in Gallipoli.

Sold together with a photographic image of the recipient.


George White was born in 1894, in Lauder, Berwickshire, the son of Isaac and Eliza White, of Wyndhead Lodge, Lauder, Berwickshire. He served during the Great War in Gallipoli with the 1/4th Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers from 4 June 1915. He died in hospital of double pneumonia on 27 November 1915. He is buried in Portianos Cemetery, Lemnos, Greece. He is also commemorated on the Lauder War Memorial and St Marys Parish Church War Memorial, Lauder.

It seems likely that George White came through the action on 12 July and counter-attacks on 13 July 1915 as referred to above, but later succumbed to pneumonia as the Winter closed in.


Harry White was born on 6 March 1883, in Lauder, Berwickshire, the son of Isaac and Eliza White, of Wyndhead Lodge, Lauder, Berwickshire. Aged 30, a harness maker, who had served for 6 years in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, he enlisted as a Bugler in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force on 22 September 1914. He served during the Great War on the Western Front with 14th Canadian Army Service Corps.