Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family Group:

Six: Captain D. E. White, Durham Light Infantry, who was taken Prisoner of War at Mersa Matruh, 27 June 1942
1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all contemporarily named ‘Capt. D. E. White, Durham L.I.’; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (Lt. D. E. White. D.L.I.); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Sergt. Douglas E. White) nearly extremely fine

Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., with two additional award bars, ‘Long Service 1943’, ‘Long Service 1947’ (Harry White.) good very fine (7) £180-220

Douglas Edmonde White was born on 6 July 1910 and attested for the Artists Rifles. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry on 22 October 1939, and was promoted Lieutenant and temporary Captain on 26 August 1940. He served with the 9th Battalion, D.L.I. with the British Expeditionary Force from 3 February, and was present at Grammont, Arras, Ypres, and Furnes, before being evacuated from Dunkirk on 25 May 1940. He subsequently served in the Middle East, in Cyprus, Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt, and on the Gazala Line for six months. After the battle of Knightsbridge he was captured at Mersa Matruh on 27 June 1942 and taken Prisoner of War. He was held first at Camp 21 at Chieti in Italy, before being moved to Oflag 79 at Braunchweig. Released in April 1945, he was demobilised in October that year, and was granted the honorary rank of Captain.

White joined the Metropolitan Special Constabulary in 1935, and served with them until 1975, holding the rank Commandant for the last twelve years of his service. He died in London in 1989.

Sold with the recipient’s P.O.W. identity tag, inscribed Oflag 79 Kr. Gef. 1411 O’; an Artists Rifles and Durham Light Infantry cap badge; and a photographic image of the recipient taken in later life.