The scarce clasp combination Somaliland Mad Mullah Operations 1902 to 1904 and 1908 to 1910, Persian Gulf Anti-Gun Running Operations and Great War survivor of the sinking of Hermes 31st October 1914 and long service group awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class W. White, Royal Navy. White from Scholar Green in Cheshire, was aboard the gunboat Dryad during his first time on operations off Somaliland, before transferring to the cruiser Hyacinth for the second occasion, being still with this vessel in the Persian Gulf. Recalled for the Great War he was aboard the light cruiser Hermes when she was torpedoed and sunk in the Straits of Dover on 31st October 1914 by the German submarine U-27 and was then latterly with the Auxiliary Patrol aboard a minesweeper. In having participated in both the Somaliland operations namely
Somaliland 1902-04 and Somaliland 1908-10 for which clasps where issued
to the Africa General Service Medal, White was one of only 106
recipients of this two clasp medal to the Royal Navy.
Group of 5: Africa General Service Medal 1899-1956, EVII 1st type bust, 2 Clasps: Somaliland 1902-04, Somaliland 1908-10; (W. WHITE, E.R.A. 2CL., H.M.S. DRYAD.); Naval General Service Medal 1909-1962, 1 Clasp: Persian Gult 1909-1914; (164112. W. WHITE, CH.E.R.A.1CL., H.M.S. HYACINTH.); 1914-1915 Star; (164112. W. WHITE. C.E.R.A., R.N.); British War Medal and Victory Medal; (164112 W. WHiTE. C.E.R.A. R.N.); Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, EVII bust; (164112 WILLIAM WHITE, C.E.R.A. 2 CL., H.M.S. CUMBERLAND.)
Condition: light contact wear and edge bruising, Very Fine.
William White was born on 6th October 1868 in Scholar Green, Cheshire, and having worked as a boiler maker, then joined the Royal Navy as an Acting Engine Room Artificer (Chatham No.164112) with Pembrpke from 26th October 1891, being rated as an Engine Room Artificer 4th Class on 21st August 1893 and as an Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class on 21st February 1895, both whilst with Hawke. White was aboard Galatea when he was advance to Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 22nd February 1899 and was aboard the gunboat Dryad when he saw service during the operations against the Mad Mullah on and off the coast of Somaliland at some stage been February 1903 and February 1904.
White was with Pembroke II when he was made an Engine Room Artificer 1st Class on 21st February 1904, and when he was appointed to Acting Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 18th October 1904, before being promoted to Chief Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class on 1st October 1905 whilst with Cumberland. White was still aboard the armoured cruiser Cumberland when he was awarded the Royal Navy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 2nd November 1906.
In April 1909 he joined the cruiser Hyacinth and saw service aboard her during another batch of operations against the Mad Mullah on and off the coast of Somaliland through to 1910. In having participated in both the Somaliland operations namely Somaliland 1902-04 and Somaliland 1908-10 for which clasps where issued to the Africa General Service Medal, White was one of only 106 recipients of this two clasp medal to the Royal Navy.
In this period, White was also present during the anti gun running operations in the Persian Gulf. White was still with this ship when he was advanced to Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class on 20th September 1910. He was pensioned from service on 10th November 1915.
Recalled shortly before the outbreak of the Great War with Pembroke II, he then joined the light cruiser Hermes from 25th August 1914. Hermes had by then been modified to accommodate three seaplanes to evaluate the use of aircraft in support of the fleet, and as such had become the first aircraft carrier of sorts. The flying platform however did not work, and instead with the outbreak of the war, she found herself assigned to the Nore Command, and used to ferry aircraft and stores to France. On 30 October she arrived at Dunkirk with one load of seaplanes. The next morning, 31st October 1914, Hermes set out on the return journey but was recalled because a German submarine was reported in the area. Despite zigzagging at a speed of 13 knots, she was torpedoed by U-27 at a range of 300 yards. Hermes sank off Ruylingen Bank in the Straits of Dover with the loss of 21 of her crew killed. Amongst the survivors was White.
White was then posted to the Chatham Guardship Wallaroo from 1st November 1914, before being posted to Pembroke II from 2nd May 1916, and then transferred on 1st June 1917 to Wallington, which was the Auxiliary Patrol Base at Barton-on-Humber which operated Q-Ships out in the Bay of Biscay. He saw service with the minesweeper Hebe from 1st February 1918 when she operated from Wallaroo, and having then rejoined Wallington, was demobilised ashore on 31st July 1919.
