I am including Egbert as his family lived in Saxlingham Thorpe and he is mentioned on a list that was in the Church Chest and is now in the Norfolk Record Office. His father and two brothers have their names on the War Memorial.
Egbert was born in Great Yarmouth on 29 July 1880. His parents were Samuel John and Elizabeth White. At the time of Egbert’s birth Samuel was a licensed victualler in Great Yarmouth.
Egbert was baptised in Great Yarmouth on 5 September 1880. In 1881 they lived at The Staithe, Hickling, Norfolk. In 1883 they lived in Leyton, Essex and then returned to Norfolk. By 1889 they were living in Swardeston, Norfolk and Samuel was working as a signalman. In 1891 their address was the Cottage, Turnpike, Swardeston.
Egbert had several siblings, half-siblings and step-siblings. His mother died in December 1899 and his father remarried twice. For more information about his extended family see the entry on the website for his father Samuel John White or for his brothers Reginal and Ralph White.
His siblings were;
Ella Eliza born 1883
Grace Maria born 22 December 1885
Sydney Leopold born 11 October 1887
Nora Gwendoline born 6 February 1889
Reginald born 1 July 1892 killed 16 February 1916
Ralph born 6 December 1896 killed 13 October 1915
His half siblings were
Leila Hagar born 1904
Alfred John born 2 November 1908
On 29 May 1900 aged 19 years and 10 months he joined the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) in Canterbury. His service number was 6351. He gave his occupation as a railway porter. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall with a 33 inch chest and he weighed 130 pounds. He had a fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair.
He stated his next of kin were his father and his brother Sydney. His mother had died the previous year.
In 1901 he was stationed at Shorncliffe Camp, Cheriton and Sandgate.
He served in South Africa from 18 September 1901 to 27 October 1902. In October 1901 the regiment was involved in a battle a Baakenlaagte, after which it was mainly on garrison duty in the East part of Transvaal. After the end of the war in June 1902, the regiment in October 1902 returned to England on SS Andrew and were stationed at Dover.
The Citadel Barracks, Dover
He was back in England from 28 October 1902 till 1 June 1905. He was posted back to South Africa and served there from 2 June 1905 till 30 March 1908.
He left the army on 28 May 1908.
On 10 February 1911 he married Ada Laura Walters, born 3 October 1876 at St. Pancras Registry Office.
In 1911 they lived at 75 Bruce Buildings, Caledonian Estate, Caledonian Road, Islington, Lower Holloway. He was working as an hotel plate man. An hotel plate man was in charge of the hotel’s tableware and particularly any silver plate.
Their son Gordon Egbert John was born 16 May 1913. Sadly he was killed during the Second World War on 12 December 1942 in Italy.
When the First World War started Egbert joined the Army on 25 September 1914. He was in the Royal Fusiliers, service number 1003.
He weighed 145 pounds He had tattoos on his back, chest, neck and both arms and forearms. He was working as a hotel porter. His address was 2 Osborne House, Paradise Street, Marylebone.
He served in France and was wounded. He was discharged from the army on 10 May 1916 because of his injuries. He was awarded a pension of 25 shillings a week for six months.
He received a silver war badge as well as 1914-1915 star.
When he left the army his wife was living at 64 Bruce Building, Caledonian Road.
In 1939 Egbert and Ada were living at 148 Long Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex. He gave his occupation as hotel porter retired through incapacity.
He died in Uxbridge in 1948.
His great-niece wrote on the Imperial War Museum’s ‘ Lives of the First World’ war about Egbert. He was her grandmother’s brother. Her father was the best man of Egbert’s son, Gordon when he married in 1940. She said that her mother remembered Egbert as being severely disabled because of his war injuries.
The White family suffered greatly in the war with two sons being killed and Egbert being severely injured.
Acknowledgements
England & Wales, Birth, marriage, death index 1837-2005
UK Census Collection
British Army Medal Roll Index cards, 1914-1920
Silver War Badge Records 3rd January 1917
1939 Register- www.findmypast.co.uk
British Army Pension Records.
British Army Service Records
Norfolk, Church of England Diocesan Baptismal Records, Burial records – Great Yarmouth, Swardeston and Saxlingham Nethergate
Photograph of Shorncliffe camp- archive.sandgatesociety.com
Lives of the First World War 1914-1918 , Find my past.
Information about East Kent Regiment. www.machadoink.com
Information about the East Kent Regiment in South Africa- www.angloboerwar.com