Today’s post takes a small liberty with the conventional alphabetical order of the names of the fallen. We hope you will understand the poignancy of this decision when you read tomorrow’s final tribute to the men of the village.
William Turner WHITE
Geddington Roll of Honour 1914-18
Amara War Cemetery, Mesopotamia
Rank: Private
Service No: 20172
Regiment/Service: Norfolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Date of Death: 26/02/1917, Died of wounds, aged 37
Cemetery: Amara War Cemetery, Mesopotamia (Iraq) – Grave: XXIX. B. 57/66.
Personal Information
William was born in Geddington to his mother Mary Elizabeth White and was christened in the church on 24th April 1880. He lived with his grandparents as he was growing up but, by 1911, he lived as a boarder with the Patrick family on Wood Street.
William married Lilian Annie Elliot in 1915, to whom his effects of £2.7s 10d were sent after his death. With a further £3 in 1919.
William enlisted on 8th June 1916. His death in Mesopotamia, now modern day Iraq, and listed as the ‘Asiatic Theatre’, just over 6 months later, shows how far from home he had travelled in the service of his country. His grave, one of 4,000, lies in the cemetery on the banks of the Tigris some 520 miles from the sea.
Like his comrades, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Census 1881: Queen Street, Geddington
Joseph White (grandfather), Aged 48, agricultural labourer, b. Geddington
Mary E White (mother), Aged 20, b. Geddington
Frederic J White (uncle), Aged 9, b. Geddington
Amy Reb. White (aunt), Aged 7, b. Geddington
Charles Hubert White (uncle), Aged 3, b. Geddington
William T White, Aged 1, b. Geddington.
Census 1891: Malting Lane, Geddington
Joseph White (grandfather), Aged 58; agricultural labourer
Rebecca White (grandmother), Aged 52; c. Caldecoat, Rutland
Frederic J White (uncle); Aged 19; labourer carter
Charles H White (uncle); Aged 13; agricultural labourer
William T White; Aged 11
Census 1901: Malting Lane, Geddington
Joseph White (grandfather); Aged 68; on Parish Relief
Rebecca White (grandmother); Aged 62
Frederick White (uncle); Aged 29; labourer on a Farm
Charles White (uncle); Aged 22; ironstone labourer
William White; Aged 21; leather dresser
Census 1911: Wood Street, Geddington (boarder)
William Turner White; Aged 31, ironstone labourer