Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Lilley White, a shoe trade finisher, born 1855 in Barwell, Leics., and his wife Emily White (nee Wood, married in the 1st quarter of 1877 in the Hinckley, Leics. district), born 1858 in Barwell, Leics. Richard White was born on the 27th October 1889 in Barwell, Leics., his siblings were, William, a shoe trade finisher, born 1878 and Mary Ann, a schoolgirl, born 1881, both his siblings were born in Barwell, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at High Street, Barwell, Leics. In March 1901 Richard was employed as a shoe trade eyeleter and was residing in the family home at 2, Stanley Street, Barwell, Leics., together with his father, a shoe trade finisher, his mother and siblings, William, a shoe trade finshing room foreman, Mary, a shoe trade machinist, Sidney, born 1894, Elizabeth, born 1896, Mabel, born 1898 and Edith, born 1900, the latter four siblings were all born in Barwell, Leics. In the 1st quarter of 1907, Richard’s mother died aged 49 in the Hinckley, Leics. district. In April 1911 Richard was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at 2, Stanley Street, Barwell, Leics., together with his widowed father, a shoe trade finisher, and his siblings, Mary, a shoe trade machinist, Sidney, a shoe trade clicker, Elizabeth, a shoe trade fitter, Mabel, a shoe trade fitter and Edith. In the 4th quarter of 1914, Richard married Ellen Sharpe in the Hinckley, Leics. district. Richard enlisted into the Royal Air Force on the 22nd August 1918 for the duration of the war, he was allocated the service number 87249. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7¾ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of 33½ inches, his complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was fair and he had blue eyes. It was noted that he had a scar on his back. He gave his date and place of birth as the 27th October 1889 in Barwell, Leics., his trade or calling as boot and shoe trade and his religion as Church of England. He gave his wife, Mrs Ellen White of 13, High Street, Barwell, Leicester, near Hinckley as his next of kin. His record of service shows that he joined as a Private II on the 22/8/18 – 22/11/18 when he died in the Royal Naval Hospital in Chatham, Kent from pneumonia.