Photo: James Pasby
In St.Nicholas Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
In
loving memory
of
Ralph White
born 14th June 1842
died 8th Novr. 1908
Also
in proud and dear remembrance of
2nd Lieut. Ralph Ernest White
(East Surrey Regt.) aged 40 years
who died of wounds received in action
at dawn Sept. 20th 1917.
He was laid to rest in a little
hospital cemetery behind the
battle-lines in France.
He nothing common did nor mean.
upon that memorable scene.
Also
In affectionate memory of
Elizabeth White,
widow of Ralph White,
who died Oct. 6th 1920, aged 78 years.
And of
John Alexander White,
who died Oct. 9th 1921, aged 46 years.
The following has been transcribed from The Northerner, Vol. XVII, no. 2, April, 1918, page 2 by Tony Harding:
White, R.E., Second-Lieutenant, East Surrey Regiment, died of wounds, was a son of the late Mr. Ralph White, Newburn Steel Works, and was a distinguished student of the Art School at Armstrong College, Newcastle. He was in Canada when war broke out, and was twice rejected when he offered to enlist, but, returning home, was accepted by the Queen’s Westminsters, and saw fighting on the Somme before gaining his commission.
He is remembered in Newcastle on NUT063
CWGC has his date of death as 28th Sept.