Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Henry (aka Charles) Arthur Charles White

Ancestor's date of birth: 11/02/1884

Ancestor's date of death: 04/02/1971

Cause of Death: Not Stated

Service Number: 36333

Colony or State of enlistment: Not applicable, Place of Enlistment: South Africa

Unit: South African Light Horse

Rank attained in Boer War: TPR, Date Effective: On enlistment

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): Details of post Boer War Service not known

Murray Page: Not applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit

Contingent: Not applicable

Ship: Travelled privately to South Africa

Memorial details: Detail not provided

Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps

Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided

Reasons to go and fight: I believe both parents and sister all deceased.

Details of service in war: The unit was also known as the Imperial Light Horse. Its first engagement was the Battle of Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899. During this battle two Victoria Crosses were awarded (to Captain Charles Herbert Mullins and Lieutenant Robert Johnston) and the commander Colonel Scott-Chisholme was killed, leading from the front. The Regiment subsequently saw service at the Siege of Ladysmith (where another Victoria Cross was awarded - to Trooper Herman Albrecht at Wagon Hill) Colenso, the Battle of Spion Kop and the Relief of Ladysmith. At Spioenkop, the SALH was successful in capturing Commandant Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo, the commander of the Carolina Boer Commando. The SALH was then specially selected to join the Mafeking Relief Column under Colonel Mahon. Eight men under Major Karri Davies of the SALH were the first to enter Mafeking on the night of 16/17 May 1900 to break the siege, followed up by the joint relief columns the following morning. 209 men who had been involved in Relief of Ladysmith and 33 who had been besieged there were in Mahoon's Column as were 420 men who had been in the Defence of Kimberley. In late 1900 a second battalion was formed, under Major Duncan McKenzie. Both units then went on to fight in the South African Republic and the Orange Free State Republic until the end of the war. A fourth Victoria Cross was awarded - to Surgeon Captain Thomas Joseph Crean - due to his actions at Tyger Kloof Spruit near Bethlehem in 1901. Later he enlisted in the British South African Police, he travelled from South Africa to Austalia on the Deltic.Source Hobart Mercury 15/11/1901.

Service and life after the Boer War: While still in South Africa with Kitchener's Water Police he married.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Valerie White Surrey Hills VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Daughter

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