Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Lance-Corporal J. White, The Black Watch

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (846998 Pte. J. White. Black. Watch.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Burma Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted court style as worn, nearly very fine (7) £200-260

Sold with original documents, including Regular Army Certificate of Service (Red Book) which confirms all medals and theatres of service, Soldier’s Release Book Class A, Army Form B Certificate of Transfer to Army Reserve with covering letter, and four original photographs including three in uniform.

James McRitchie White was born in 1917 and enlisted into the Black Watch at Perth on 7 January 1936. He served in Palestine and the Middle East from 21 September 1937 to 8 March 1942; in India and Burma from 9 March 1942 to 4 January 1944; and in North West Europe from 6 June 1944 (D-Day) to 3 December 1944, and from 6 March 1945 to 18 January 1946. White’s war was action packed, with service in British Somaliland and Heraklion (Crete) with the 2nd Battalion. Whilst being evacuated from Crete, 2 Black Watch lost 103 killed when H.M.S. Dido was bombed and sunk. The battalion took part in the relief of Tobruk during November 1941, losing a further 200 killed. Whilst serving in India the battalion was trained to take part in the ‘Chindit’ operations but White was returned to the U.K. before the end of the war and served with the 5th Battalion in North West Europe from D-Day onwards. White transferred to the Army Reserve at Perth on 21 January 1946, and was discharged on 2 September 1952. His military conduct was exemplary.