Field Marshal Sir George Stuart White VC, GCB, OM,
GCSI, GCMG,
GCIE, GCVO, (4 July, 1835—24 June, 1912) was an officer of the British Army and recipient of the
Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the
enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces
Early life
He was born at Rock Castle, Portstewart, County
Londonderry, and was educated at King William's College on the
Isle of Man and Bromsgrove School,
Worcestershire.
After graduating from Sandhurst, White was commissioned into the
27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot and saw service in the
Indian Mutiny.
He fought in the Second Afghan War in 1879 as second-in-command of
the 92nd Regiment of Foot (later The Gordon Highlanders).
The Victoria Cross
He was 44 years old when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 6 October 1879 at Charasiah, Afghanistan, Major White led an attack on a strongly
fortified hill where the enemy force outnumbered the major's by about eight to one. When his men became exhausted and immediate
action seemed necessary, he took a rifle and, running forward alone, shot the enemy leader. This decided the issue and the enemy
fled.
Again, at the battle of Kandahar Major White led the final charge and personally captured
one of the two guns held by the enemy, immediately after which the latter retired.
Later life
The Relief of Ladysmith. Sir George White greets Major
Hubert Gough on
28 February, 1900. Painting by
John Henry Frederick Bacon (1868-1914).
He became the commanding officer of the 92nd Foot in 1881. White was
knighted in 1886 for his military service in Burma, and became
Commander-in-Chief, India in 1893.
He was commander of the garrison at the Siege of Ladysmith 1899–1900 during the
Second Boer War. He became Governor of
Gibraltar (1900–1904) and was made field marshal in 1903. He died in the
Chelsea Hospital, London on
24 June, 1912.
His son Jack White after service in the British Army became an Irish republican and anarchist who
founded the Irish Citizens Army.
A statue of White is currently located at Portland Place, London.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum
(Aberdeen, Scotland).
References
Listed in order of publication year
See also
External links
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