George Stephen White was born on 24th May 1892 in Lamyatt, Somerset, England.
The 1901 Census for England on Ancestry.co.uk shows that the White family was living at 2, Middle Street, Galhampton, Somerset. Head of the family, George White was 39 and had been born in Blandford, Dorset. He was a General Labourer on a farm. He and his wife, Hannah who was also 39 years of age had six children listed at home. They were, Reginald, aged 19, Frederick 13, Maud 11. All of these three children were born in Allhampton in the Parish of Ditcheat, Somerset. Steve (George Stephen White) who was 8 had been born in Lamyatt, Somerset in 1892. Cecil, aged 5 and Frank, 1 were both born in Benton, Somerset.
Ten years on, in 1911, the family was still living in Middle Street, Galhampton. Head of the household George White was an employer Farmer aged 45. He and his wife Hannah had been married for twenty five years and had five children listed at home. Reginald, was 24 and Cecil, 14 were both Workers on the farm. Frank, aged 11, and two additions to the family, Hilda, 8 and Norah 2, had been born in Galhampton.
George Stephen White was recorded on the 1911 census living at Yarlington Mill, Yarlington, Wincanton. He was aged 19 and his occupation was Baker, Journeyman.
George Stephen White married Laura C. Mallam in the fourth quarter of 1911 in Wincanton, Somerset according to Ancestry. They were shown to have emigrated in 1913 aboard the S.S. Teutonic and arrived in Portland Maine U.S.A. on 25th March 1913. They had an infant by the name of Frederick. (Canadian Passenger Lists on Ancestry.co.uk),
I cannot find any documents listing them as having crossed the border to Canada.
George Stephen White’s army records tell us that he enlisted into the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on 29th January 1915 at Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He gave his address as 12905- 66th Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and named as his next of kin, wife, L White. His date of birth was 24th May 1892. He was a Driver. He stated that he had served with the Somerset Light Infantry between 1910 and 1913. George’s medical form described him as being 5ft 8ins tall with medium complexion, dark blue eyes and dark brown hair.
After basic training in Canada, George embarked from Halifax on 18th April 1916 and disembarked in Liverpool on 28th April 1916 when he was posted to Bramshott Army Camp. He proceeded overseas with the 15th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry on 9th June 1916 where he served in the Field until sustaining a gunshot wound to the back on 13th July 1916. George was transferred by Field Ambulance to the 13th General Hospital and then transferred back to England where he was admitted to the Kitchener Hospital at Brighton on 17th July 1916 for initial treatment and then transferred to the Convalescent Hospital at Woodcote Park, Epsom on 29th July 1916 and eventually discharged from there on 9th September 1916.
It would appear from George’s service record that he served at various Army Camps within England for the remainder of the war. Hastings from 3rd March 1917 as Acting Corporal. (unpaid) He was allowed to go back to Canada between 19th May 1918 until 25th September 1918 when he returned to England aboard the S.S. Durham Castle. He was at this time an Acting Sergeant posted to Whitley Army Camp. As hostilities were coming to an end, George was posted to Kinmel Army Camp in Rhyl, North Wales. Sadly George contracted Bronchial Pneumonia, and was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital where he died on 26th October 1918.
George’s widow Laura received his medals, plaque and memorial cross, she was living at 12813 – 63rd Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His mother, Annie White received a memorial cross, her address was High Coxhill Farm,Castle Cary, Somerset, England.
The 1921 Census for Canada on Ancestry.co.uk shows Laura White, widowed, age 32 living with her son Francis White, age 8 and her mother Kate Mallom age 64 at 12813 63rd Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
(From Library of Canada Archives)
Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many contracted Influenza or complications associated with this infection.
George is buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.
He is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual memorial.
To read about the 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry, please follow the link.http://15thbattalioncef.ca/mascots/
George’s brother Frederick enlisted into the Somerset Light Infantry in 1905, regimental number 7852 and served for four years before being transferred to the Army Reserve List. This was due to an accident that occurred during service, damaging his knee cap and making him unfit for duty in 1914, when he was discharged as unfit and received a pension.
