Private, G/39877, 1st Battalion, The Queens, (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Died of wounds, aged about 25, on 25 September 1917 at the Western Front.
In August 1914 the Battalion was in Bordon Camp under the command of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. It landed at Le Havre on 13 August 1914. On 8 November 1914 it transferred to I Corps and on 21 July 1915 moved to the 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. On 15 December 1915 it transferred to the 100th Brigade, 33rd Division. On 5 February 1918 it transferred to 19th Brigade, 33 Division.
The Battle of Menin Road Ridge was fought between 20 - 25 September 1917. It involved new army tactics of "bite and hold", where a small part of the front line would be hit with a heavy bombardment and then attacked in strength. The advancing troops would stop once they had penetrated 1,500 yards into the German lines. At this point they would have overrun the German front line and perhaps some of the strong points behind the lines. The attacking troops would then stop and dig in. When the German counterattack was launched, instead of finding a mass of exhausted and disorganised men at the limit of the Allied advance, they would find a well organised defensive line. This tactic worked well and the 1st Battalion, Royal Surrey Regiment were part of 33rd Division that provided a reserve to later take over ground and defend it against expected enemy attack.
The Battalion War Diary describes that at 1pm on 24 September 1917 the Battalion commenced its move into the front line to relieve the 8 KOYLI. During this time there was great concentration of troops using the tracks and they were subjected to heavy artillery fire resulting in many casualties. B and D companies were moved into the forward positions and A and C remained in reserve. At 7.30 the next morning a message was received reporting that the front lines had been penetrated by enemy troops and later that B Company had been virtually wiped out by heavy bombardment. C Company were ordered to counter attack but were delayed due to heavy artillery bombardment. 'A' Company later joined the attack and in the evening of 26 September, with assistance from other battalions, all lost ground was recaptured and defences consolidated. The Battalion was relieved on the 28 September 1917. In all the Battalion lost 14 Officers (4 killed, 9 wounded and 1 missing) and 387 Other Ranks (59 killed, 109 wounded and 219 missing). 'B' and 'D' Companies lost all their officers and most of their men. It would seem that enemy troops broke in from the flanks and then surrounded and captured a large number of men. It is possible that Private White was wounded either during the bombardment that occurred during the initial relief and died later. However, it is more probable that he was wounded during the German attack the next day and died of his wounds but his body was left behind or could not be recovered for burial.
Private White was born at Bushey, Hertsfordshire. In 1911 he was living with his parents, George (57) and Mary (55) White at 5 Minet Avenue, Willesden and was employed as a Railway Attendant. His siblings included George (33), Florence (23). Also at the house was his sister-in-law, Catherine White (30) and her daughter Florence (3 months). His father was employed as a Railway Clerk and was born at St. Pancras, London. His mother originated from Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. His other siblings included Ernest (b. about 1881) and Alfred (b. about 1885).
In 1912 Frederick White married Elizabeth Roberts at Holyhead. They had two children, Frederick W White, born in 1914, and Herbert White, born in 1916.
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Panel 14 to 17 and 162 to 162A. He has no known grave.