Private Charles White

Private Charles White, 1st Battalion, Cameronians. He was killed in action in France, aged 22, on the 29th October 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. He had been born in Cavers, Roxburghshire and was the son of Elizabeth White of Birkieknowe, Jedburgh where he lived with his mother and grandfather. He was employed at Lanton, Jedburgh and had enlisted together with his cousin also called Charles in December 1914. They landed with the 10th Battalion in France in July 1915. Both men were wounded during the Battle of Loos. This Charles upon recovery was posted to the 1st Battalion. ( His cousin survived the War ).  He was killed in the attack on “Hazy Trench” where the Battalion had 1 Officer and 17 Other Ranks killed and 1 Officer and 49 Other Ranks wounded. In addition 1 Officer and 33 Other Ranks were posted missing. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. By late Autumn the chalky soil of the Region has been churned up into a glutinous quagmire by the incessant shelling making all movement very difficult as can be seen from the photos.