Pte
Alexander (Alex/Alec) White

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortedatum:
03/03/1897
Geboorteplaats:
Stroud, Gloucestershire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Landbouwer
Geloof:
Church of England

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Canada
Strijdmacht:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
835213
Dienstneming datum:
04/01/1916
Dienstneming plaats:
Kingston, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada
Eenheden:
 —  Canadian Infantry, 20th Bn. (Central Ontario)  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
11/11/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
North of Passchendaele, België
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
20

Gedenkplaats

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille
Victory Medal
Medaille

Points of interest 2

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats

Mijn verhaal

Alexander Norman White was a former Farmer, born in 1897 in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England. On January 4th, 1916, he enlisted in the 146th Battalion at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, but was later discharged. On November 14th, 1916, he enlisted again at Seaford, East Sussex, England. Alexander served as a Private in the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry, part of the 4th Infantry Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Division.

On the night between the 8th and 9th of November 1917, the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade relieved the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade at the front near Passchendaele. The 20th Battalion took up positions north of the village, between the road to Westrozebeke and the Doornkouterstraat. The 18th Battalion was in the centre between the Doornkouterstraat and Zuidstraat. They held the eastern flank of the Passchendaele ruins. The 19th Battalion held the right flank of the brigade, between the Zuidstraat and a point 100 metres north of Tiber. The 21st and 22nd Battalion were in support at Seine and reserve at Abraham Heights respectively. The relief was completed at 4:50 a.m.

At that time ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies of the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry held a curved line between the Westrozebekestraat and the Doornkouterstraat. The only access route to the troops was the road running from Westrozebeke to Broodseinde, passing along the Passchendaele church. During the day the frontline and the access route were heavily shelled, causing casualties and making communication difficult. In the afternoon ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies, that had stayed behind near Potyse until now, moved up to the front line, arriving around midnight. At 3:20 p.m. the battalion received the order to attack the following day. The 18th and 19th Battalions were ordered to hold the line while the 20th Battalion carried out this operation. The 21st and 22nd Battalions had to stay in support and reserve. The goal was to gain ground east of Vindictive Crossroads, between the Grote Roeselarestraat and the Doornkouterstraat.

The support areas were shelled during the night. At 6:05 a.m. on November 10th, 1917, the 20th Battalion attacked. They only encountered light resistance and were able to capture the objective, about 500 metres from their jump-off point. That evening it started to rain. This, combined with shelling of the access route, made the relief planned for that night impossible. On the 11th of November 1917, the line held by the 20th Battalion was shelled, causing many casualties. The relief would eventually be completed at 7:25 a.m. on the 12th of November. Between November 1st to 12th, 1917, the 20th Canadian Infantry Battalion estimates to have suffered 176 casualties.

Alexander, aged 20, was killed in action on November 11, 1917. Private White has no known grave and is remembered on panel 26 of the Menin Gate Memorial.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 7

Ancesty
https://www.ancestry.com/
Gebruikte bronnen
Corrigall, D.J. The History of the Twentieth Canadian Battalion ( Central Ontario Regiment ) Canadian Expeditionary Force " (Toronto: Stone & Cox, 1935), 159-65.
Gebruikte bronnen
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1596997/a-n-white/
Gebruikte bronnen
Personnel Records - Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 10277 - 54
https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=310941
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/2nd-canadian-division/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary of the 20th Battalion Canadian Infantry - RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4930, Microfilm reel number: T-10730, T-10730, File number: 409, File part: 1
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2005918&new=-8585527943416637461
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade - RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4882, Microfilm reel number: T-10679, T-10679, File number: 240, File part: 1=1917/09/01-1917/10/31;2=1917/11/01-1917/12/31
https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=1883157&new=-8585524619394719189
Gebruikte bronnen