Selected Biography

White, Herbert Ernest – Born: Soho, London on 17.6.1888.[1] Parents: William White (Police Constable) and Harriet [née Hall] of Shimpling, Suffolk.  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of George Wilfred Hempstead [b1891] of Long Melford.  Home: 249 Sandringham Buildings, Soho, London [1888 to 1896], York Villas, Clarence Road, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901), 25 Golden Noble Hill, Colchester, Essex (1911), 264 Barking Road, Plaistow, London [1918].   Occupation: Grocer’s Assistant (1901, 1911). Married: Florence Dora Hempstead of Long Melford in 1914. Service Record: Herbert was conscripted as Pte.4329, later Pte.203459 with 5^th Battalion, East Surrey Regiment, being posted to France on 25.4.1917 with the regiment’s 9^th [Service] Battalion, transferring as Pte.225102 to 12^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers [City of London Regiment] from 12.5.1917 to 29.1.1918, as part 24^th Division and seeing action at the Third Battle of Ypres. On the disbandment of this battalion in January 1918 he was transferred to 15^th Platoon, ‘D’ Company, 11^th [Service] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers as part of 54^th Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division.  He was wounded in action near St Quentin on 22.3.1918, falling into enemy hands the following day.[2]  Died: Herbert died of his wounds at the Prisoner of War Camp hospital in Germersheim, Germany on 24.4.1918 and is buried in Neiderzwehren Cemetery [grave ref: IV.J.11], Kassel, Germany.[3]

Related Biography

Hempstead, George Wilfred – Born: Sudbury, Suffolk on 5.11.1891.[4]  Parents: Harry Hempstead (Gardener) and Florence [née Martin] (Silk Weaver).  Family Connections: Cousin of Alfred Arthur Hempstead [b1885] and brother-in-law of Herbert Ernest White [b1888].  Home: Patient in St Leonards Hospital, Sudbury, Suffolk (1901), 15 Croft Row, Sudbury (1911), Rodbridge, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: General Labourer (1911), Agricultural Labourer (1939).  Married: Ethel Lizzie Mason of Long Melford in 1918.[5]  Service Record: Recorded as a ‘Soldier’ at his marriage in January 1918, regrettably his unit is not given.  Although no definitive military record has been found, George may have attested as Pte.45628 with 9^th [Service] Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he was transferred as Pte.41892 to 6^th [Service] Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, then as Pte.579077 to 986^th Company, Labour Corps, and finally as Pte.GS/104344 to 43^rd [Garrison] Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.[6]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1965.

Notes – [1] Baptism Record 17.6.1888 for St Anne, Soho, London.  [2] For more information on the various Divisions engaged on the Western Front see http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/.  For his military career see also his Medal Roll [WO 329], Medal Index Card [WO 372] and World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923. For his brief time as a POW see also International Committee of the Red Cross [file ref: PA27711].  [3] British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 and Commonwealth War Grave Commission.  [4] 1939 Register. 

[5] For military status in 1918 see Marriage Register 16.1.1918, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford, Marriage was also announced in Suffolk and Essex Free Press 16.1.1918. 

[6] Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].