James White
James White was born in Addlestone, Surrey and prior to enlisting he was a brick maker.
On 07th September 1914 just after the war had started James went to the Army Recruiting Office in Weybridge, Surrey and under the name of "Jack" White enlisted as private 9296 in the 1st Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment. Jack's attestation record shows the following information:
- Height - 5 feet 7 inches
- Weight - 122 lbs
- Chest - 35 inches
- Chest expansion 1 ½ inches
- Complection - Fresh
- Eyes - Grey
- Hair - Brown
- Distinctive mark - Scar on left buttock
Two months later James was in Ypres, Flanders (Belgium) with his battalion and on 23rd November 1914 he was killed in action.
Due to the heavy fighting over the next five years on the Ypres Salient, like the graves of so many others, James's grave was lost. As James has no known grave he is commemorated on panel 34 of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. There are 54,328 names listed on the gate.
To this day, every night at 8pm the road which runs through the Menin Gate is closed by the police and the volunteer buglers from the local Fire Brigade play the last post at what is a most moving ceremony. Not many years ago there would only have been a handful of people at this ceremony but due to the increased awareness of the great war, especialy as world war one is now part of the English schools national carriculum, the number of people attending regularly exceeds 100 each evening.
Ypres Menin Gate Memorial
James White's Name on the Menin Gate
Last Post Buglers