Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Mametz Wood, July and August 1916’ D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Sergeant William White, Royal Army Medical Corps, for tending wounded under heavy fire whilst serving with 19th Field Ambulance, 33rd Division

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (11827 Sjt: W. White. 19/F.A. R.A.M.C.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal (11827 Pte. W. White. R.A.M.C.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (11827 Pte. W. White. R.A.M.C.); 1914 Star (11827 Cpl. W. White. R.A.M.C.); British War and Victory Medals (11827 Sjt. W. White. R.A.M.C.); Defence Medal; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (11827 Sjt: W. White. R.A.M.C.) mounted for display, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (8) £1,000-£1,400

D.C.M. London Gazette 1 January 1917; citation published 13 February 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He showed great courage and determination in tending the wounded under heavy fire, working continuously for 70 hours.’
Annotated Gazette states: ‘Mametz Wood, July & August 1917.’

William Herbert Allan White was born on 30 November 1870, at Bampton, Oxfordshire. He enlisted into the Medical Staff Corps at Aldershot on 10 June 1898, using only his single forename William. He had previously served in the Territorial with 4/Gloucestershire Regiment, and was an agricultural labourer prior to enlistment. He served in South Africa during the Boer War, from 4 November 1899 until 28 January 1903 (Queen’s medal with 3 Clasps, King’s medal with 2 Clasps). He was appointed Lance-Corporal in October 1907 and promoted to Corporal in January 1909.

Corporal White landed at Rouen, France, on 15 August 1914, with 3rd General Hospital based at Rouen and later at St Nazaire and Le Treport. He was appointed Acting Sergeant in December 1914 and Sergeant in January 1915. In October 1915 he transferred to 19th Field Ambulance, with whom he served until 15 December 1916, when he returned to England following a period of hospitalisation for illness.

The 33rd Division first came into action on the Somme on 15 July, attacking High Wood and Martinpuich. By this time 19th Field Ambulance was based out of Becordel ands evacuating wounded out of Mametz Wood, amongst other places, until 22 July when they withdrew to billets in Buire-sur-Ancre, near Albert.

Sergeant White was posted to 35 Company R.A.M.C. at King George Hospital, Stamfor Street, London, on 25 January 1917. He was awarded his L.S. & G.C. medal in Army Order 125 of 1917, having completed 18 years exemplary service. He was discharged on 17 April 1920. In 1936 he enlisted in the National Defense Companies of the Territorial Army Association of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. At the time of his death in July 1956 he was living at Hordle, Hampshire.

Sold with a good quantity of original documents, including 33rd Division gallantry card for having ‘distinguished yourself in the field on many occasions during the past two years,’ dated 25 December 1916; Certificate of Training as a nurse, dated 30 September 1909, from Alexandra Hospital, Cosham; two Certificates of Employment during the war; Character and Discharge certificates; and Soldiers Small Book; together with copied discharge papers and other copied research.