AN INTERESTING "OLD CONTEMPTIBLE'S" 1914 Star & Bar Trio With Defence Medal.

To:
9548 Pte W. WHITE 20th & 10th HUSSARS.
MISSING: 2nd September 1914 (found)
SERIOUSLY WOUNDED: Lost Right Eye 2nd December 1917.
From Walsall Staffs. Resided in OUTWOOD, WAKEFIELD.

[BIOGRAPHY]
William White was born in 1893 in Walsall Staffordshire. Prior to his enlistment on 28th January 1913 at the age of 19, William had worked as a Fitters Labourer. At the time of his enlistment into the Corps of Hussars he was living with his parents & siblings in Outwood, Wakefield while serving in the Territorial Reserve, 4th Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

William entered France with the B.E.F. On 16th August 1914 and was reported missing on 2nd September 1914. He was clearly found quite quickly and resumed service with his unit.

[20th HUSSARS ....Fired The 1st Shots of The War]
On the night of 21 Aug the 20th Hussars were camped out near Binche. At 4 a.m. two patrols of 12 men each were sent out, one under Lt Thompson towards Godarville and the other under Lt Goodhart towards Seneffe. Thompson's patrol found itself surrounded by vast masses of Germans and had to beat a hasty retreat. Private O'Shaughnessy's horse was shot and he only managed to escape by finding some civilian clothes and pretending to be deaf and dumb. Goodhart's patrol exchanged fire with enemy cavalry at Seneffe and noted the time which was well before 8 a.m. on 21 Aug 1914 when the 4th Dragoon Guards claimed to be the first to fire shots in anger, at Soignies.

William was severely wounded in the right eye by a bullet on 30th November 1917 and taken to No.5 C.C.S. at Tincourt Village near Peronne.

He was shipped back to the UK in the Carrisbrook Castle on 14th December 1917 with an arrival at the Eye Unit of The Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley on 16th December 1917 where his right eye was removed and an artificial eye issued.

William was at home until 29th April 1919 where he returned to duty (possibly to France) on 30th April 1919. He served until 24th December 1920 when he was transferred to Class A reserve. He had been issued with one red & two blue chevrons and a wounded stripe. His original discharge & character certificates are present. His service of seven years & 85 days is recorded as being "EXEMPLARY".

His father Henry & mother Annie are listed as next of kin living at Leeds Road, Outwood, Wakefield, Yorkshire. He had two younger brothers Fred & Henry and an elder brother Walter.

After WW1 William served in the post office & during WW2 he earned the defence medal having been attached to the fire service.

The medals are EF with original ribbons & come complete with two 10th Hussar badges. Also included are his service attestation papers with a good number of copy pages concerning his wounding & medical procedure papers.

The medals of yet another unsung hero who served in two world wars and for most of his life with only one eye.

"LEST WE FORGET"

£495