Blanchland Churchyard
In St. Mary’s Churchyard, Blanchland, Northumberland is a family gravestone which reads;
In
Loving Memory of
JANE
Dearly Beloved Wife of
ANDREW WHITE
Who Died at Blanchland
Nov ????? 1911 Aged 50 years
Also The Above ANDREW WHITE
Who Died Jan 16th 1934
Aged 79 years
Nothing By Our Hands We Bring
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John George White born at Salter’s Gate, Tow Law, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, August 5th 1885, was the only son of coal miner Andrew White and Hannah Jane Douglass. Andrew White was born in Edmundbyers, County Durham, where he was baptised July 23rd 1854, Hannah Jane Douglass, November 26th 1860, West Pelton, County Durham, the third born daughter of coal miner John Douglass and wife Margaret Richardson. They were married in 1882 in Weardale, County Durham, Andrew listed in error as surname Whyte, and were living at St Ives Road, Leadgate in 1891 where he was employed as a coal miner. Ten years later he was working as a woodman, John George (15) was employed as a postman, they had moved to Northumberland and occupied a cottage in the parish of Healey between Riding Mill and Slaley. It was not until the completion of the 1911 census that John George was listed only as George and his mother as Jane. The family had moved into 3 rooms in the village of Blanchland, Riding Mill, Northumberland, where Andrew and George (25) worked as stone-wallers, a much sought after skill. Sadly, Hannah Jane White nee Harrison died in November 1911, aged 50 years, and was interred at St. Mary’s Churchyard, Blanchland.
War was declared with Germany, August 4th 1914, George White enlisted at Hexham, initially assigned as 186286 to the Royal Engineers, he was transferred as Private 32190 to the 12th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, a Territorial Force made up of volunteers who answered Kitchener’s call to arms and was then posted to the 1st (Service) Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division which had been in France since August 1915, having departed to the front as of 1916.
During 1916 the 1st Battalion was one of 9 of the Gloucestershire Regiments to take part during the Battles of the Somme at the Battle of Albert, July 1st-13th, at Bazentin Ridge, July 14th-17th, the battalion advanced in a night attack from Contalmaison towards the German front-line and support trenches at Bazentin-le-Petit Wood with the loss of 3 killed and 25 wounded. They participated at High Wood in August 1916 where under intense shelling, the worst it was to experience during the entire war, the 1st Battalion spent three days in shell holes and had lost 46 men by the time it was relieved, August 28th. Although they remained on the Somme they did not see any further front line action and in November their positions were taken over by the French Sixth Army between Peronne and Roye, In February 1917 the Territorials of the 1/4th and 1/6th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment attacked to the north of Barleux with the 1st Battalion to the south, followed by action on the Hindenburg Line in March. As part of the 1st Division they participated during the last day of the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium, November 10th 1917. April 18th 1918 during the Battle of the Lys at Bethune the 1st Battalion was praised for its actions and earned 33 awards for gallantry when it fought back a German attack.
Private 32190 George White died of gunshot wound/s, as per official documents available, April 24th 1918, however the CWGC have adopted the date of April 25th 1918. He was interred within Pernes British Cemetery, grave 1. D. 40, the cemetery was begun as of April 18th 1918 when the 1st and 4th Canadian Casualty Clearing Stations came to Pernes, having been driven back by the German advance in the sector. Private White was 33 years of age and single.
His father commissioned an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Beloved Son Of Andrew & Jane White Blanchland, England.”
His death was communicated via official channels, April 28th 1918, his father Andrew White as sole legitimate received all monies due to him from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal also a pension sent to him at Blanchland, Riding Mill, Northumberland, until his death, January 16th 1934. Andrew White was interred in the family grave at St. Mary’s Churchyard, Blanchland, with his wife Jane. Effects in the sum of £101 15s 1d, May 18th 1934 to Stanley Graham Allison, joiner.
Having lost his son and heir, with his death this line of the White family ceased to exist.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John George White is remembered at Blanchland on B40.01 as George White.
