Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John William White, a mineral water drayman, born 1869 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and his wife Mary Ann White (nee Bishop, married in the 1st quarter of 1893 in the Leicester district), born 1863 in Asfordby, Leicestershire. John William was born in the 3rd quarter of 1896 in Nottingham, his siblings were, Sallie Frances, born 1894 and Mary, born 1896, both his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 26, Rupert Street, Nottingham. In the 3rd quarter of 1902 John’s mother passed away aged 38. In the 2nd quarter of 1903 John’s widowed father married Emma Maria Gardner in the Brixworth, Northamptonshire district. In April 1911 John was employed as a farm worker and was residing in the family home of his maternal uncle, Joseph Hames, a farmer, born 1852 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, and his wife, Fanny Hames, born 1852 in Asfordby, also residing with his uncle, was his sister Sallie, a dairy farm worker.
The War Diary records: 23 Jan-15 - Left billets at 4:30pm and marched to trenches at RUE DU BOIS frontage junction RUE DU BOIS with ROUGE-CRUAX. LA BASSEE road along RUE DU BOIS south west up to and inclusive of the FACTORY. From right to left, “D”, “A”, “C” and in reserve “B” Company and HQ’s. Machine Gun detachment under Brigade orders. 1st line LA COUTURE ROAD at north west entrance to RICHEBOURG ST. VAAST. Front Companies billeted in houses which were placed in a state of defence Line of Resistance – trenches and a redoubt parallel to road and 70 yards to 150 yards south of road. Advanced posts two of which were officer’s posts in advance ranging from 70 yards to 200 yards from German trenches. These advance posts we succeeded in draining of water where the men actually stood, but to get there men had to get wet up to their waists in some cases. Men in advanced posts relieved twice a day 5:00am and 6:00pm, when men relieved proceeded to bath house at once and eventually joined the reserve Company, when fit men before going to posts were well vaselined as whale oil could not be obtained.
24 Jan-15 – Morning. No change. German flares every half hour on left, every hour on right. Communication established with Battalions to right and left. Evening. No change. Officers post Reserve Company shot German.
25 Jan-15 - At 7:00am no change. At 7:30am German shelling RUE DU BOIS and advanced trenches. At 9:45am heavy firing on the left, some firing on my front, “C” Company in houses, “A” and “D” Companies in trenches. At 10:07am all former firing on my left reported to be enemy’s fire. At 10:25 received information from Brigade, prisoner reports attack contemplated against this part of British front. BETHUNE shelled this morning. At 11:20am at present all quiet, communication with left Battalion (SHERWOOD FORESTERS) broken down. Used orderly who returns 1:00pm informed that Germans have been pouring rapid fire, shells, bombs in their right section, this activity has never occurred before. Germans did not show themselves. At 1:26pm firing near my left has ceased. At 5:15pm Orderly again returns from left Battalion who report all quiet. At 5:45pm telephone communication again established. At 10:00pm all quiet. Continue to improve barricade on left and build breast work, also continue loop holing houses.
On Friday February 12th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – ASFORDBY’S FIRST CASUALTY. – News was received on Wednesday by Mr. and Mrs. John White of Asfordby, that their only son, Private John William White, No. 11194, 3rd Leicester Regiment, had died of wounds received in action, his body being interred in Lillers Cemetery on January 25th 1915. The deceased was only 18 years of age, and was in training at Cosham on the outbreak of hostilities, and sailed for France on November 30th 1914. Prior to joining the forces he was employed by the Holwell Iron Company Limited. His last postcard to his parents bore the date January 23rd, two days prior to his death, saying he had been in hospital sick for four days, but was then better, and the next his parents heard was the notification from the War Office accompanied by a letter from Lord Kitchener conveying the sympathy of the King and Queen to the parents in their sorrow. Asfordby has contributed over 100 men to the Army since war broke out, and this is the first casualty notified.
On Saturday February 20th 1915 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – The first Asfordby lad to fall in the present war is Private John William White, No. 11194, 3rd Leicestershire Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. John White, of Asfordby. The deceased was in training at Cosham, at the outbreak of the war, and sailed for France on November 30th 1914. His last postcard was dated January 19th saying he had been in hospital four days, but was better. The next his parents heard was a notification from the War Office saying he had died of wounds, and was interred in Lillers Cemetery on January 25th, two days later. The notification was accompanied by a note from Lord Kitchener conveying the sympathies of their Majesties the King and Queen with the parents in their sorrow. The deceased was only 18 years of age, and prior to joining the forces was employed by the Holwell Iron Company Ltd.