Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George White, a farm wagoner, born 1863 in Frisby on the Wreake, Leics., and his wife Frances White (nee Painter), born 1869 in Kingsley, Hants. George Frederick was born in 1895 in Rotherby, Leics., his siblings were, Thomas William, born 1890 and Sarah Lizzie, born 1892, both his siblings were born in Rotherby, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Sysonby Grange, Sysonby, Leics. In April 1911 George was employed as a furnace labourer and was residing in the family home at 20, Chapel Street, Melton Mowbray, Leics., together with his father, now a furnace labourer, his mother and siblings, Thomas a furnace labourer, Sarah, a home help, Edith Ellen, a domestic servant, born 1894 in Rotherby, Leics., Ida Annie, a schoolgirl, born 1903, Marjorie Alice, a schoolgirl, born 1907 and Adella, born 1909, the latter three siblings were all born in Melton Mowbray, Leics. On Friday January 8th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON’S DEAD HEROES.” – ANOTHER LOCAL CASUALTY. – (A photograph accompanied the article). It is with regret that we have to record another local casualty, the victim being Pte. Fred White, 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (son of Mr. and Mrs. George White, of the Bungalow, Welby, Melton Mowbray). He formerly worked for Messrs. Tyler and Sons, coachbuilders, Nottingham Street, and afterwards for the Holwell Iron Co., but in 1912 he joined the 1st Leicestershire’s, and was stationed with them at Fermoy Barracks, Ireland. Whilst there he took a prominent part in regimental football and cricket. On the outbreak of the war Pte. White went out with his regiment to the front, and took part in several important engagements, but had the good luck to go through them unscathed. He wrote home as recently as the 17th December, stating that he was quite well, but a few days later he was taken suddenly ill, and was removed to the No.2 Clearing Hospital, at the Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force in France. There he was operated upon for appendicitis on December 22nd, but died in the hospital on Christmas Eve. Pte. White who was only 19 years of age, was well known and much respected at Melton Mowbray. Whilst living in Melton he was a member of the local Brotherhood, and was captain of their football team. We offer our sympathy to the bereaved parents and other members of the family. In the same issue the following further article was published under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS.” – THANKS – Mr. and Mrs. George White and family, of The Bungalow, Welby, desire to tender their sincere thanks for the numerous expressions of sympathy they have received in connection with the death of their son and brother, Private Fred White. The War Diary for the 25th December records that the Battalion were in trenches at Rue du Bois – GD Flamanderie. There was a frost. Casualties two men killed and one wounded.