Lance Sergeant William George Whiter Royal Artillery and Sherwood Foresters
The Man William George Whiter was born on Sunday 17th November 1918, six days after the Armistice, in Bow, Tower Hamlets, London. Son of Bertie Alfred Whiter, a Paper Machinist and Mary Anne Elizabeth nee Richardson he was one of three children, Bertie Alfred junior born in 1914 and Mary Ann 1926.
Following his education, Willian became a Messenger Clerk, working for a Merchant Bank in the city and by 1938 the family were living at 32 Appian Road, Bow. On 20th October 1938 William aged 19 attested at West Ham, London into the Territorial Army, 6th Battalion Essex Regiment as a Private and with Service Number 6014102. He was described as 5’.4½“ tall, weighing 120lbs, a fresh complexion, blue eyes, very fair hair and his religion was Church of England. He was posted to B Company and embodied on 16th July 1939 serving at home until 27th August when he was called out on 28th, before being embodied a second time on 1st September just 2 days before the start of World War II. The 1939 census shows the family minus William living at Appion Road.
In 1940, William was transferred to the 442 Battery Royal Artillery (RA) as a Gunner, attached to the 40th Brigade School 201 Company and the 40th Anti-Aircraft Brigade School. He was promoted to Lance Bombardier on 28th September 1940 and spent the early years of the war at different locations in the UK on Coastal Batteries and Anti-Aircraft duties. In February 1941, he attended a Physical Training (PT) and Boxing Course, followed by an advanced Boxing Instructors course, in which he was graded above average. He appears to have excelled in the sport as this was followed by a PT Instructors Course and he re mustered as a PT Instructor, serving in 433 Battery and various other training units as an Instructor within the RA, for the remainder of the war. He was promoted Bombardier on 27th June 1942.
On 1st April 1944 he married Mary Woollin in Woodkirk, Yorkshire, Mary’s hometown and they lived at the Appion Road address, having two sons William James born in 1945 and David Alfred born on 5th June 1950, later a Stockbroker. At the end of the war William was awarded the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ the latter appearing in Army Order 196 of 1946.
In June 1945 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and on 20th July posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Palestine, transferring to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters as a Corporal on 15th September. Although World War II had brought relative calm to the region, tensions again escalated into an armed struggle towards the end of the war, when it became clear that the Axis Powers were close to defeat. The conflict lasted until the termination of the Palestine mandate and the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948.
William was appointed paid Lance Sergeant on14th November 1945, returning to the UK on 2nd February 1946, serving in the UK until 8th April when he was released from the Army and posted to the Z/T Class Reserve. He was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
On his release, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion said of William, “A reliable hardworking man who possesses initiative and is not afraid to accept responsibility. He carries out his job in a cheerful, efficient manner. For six years before the War Whiter worked as a Clerk for the Merchant Bankers and he wishes to return to this job. I recommend this man”. His conduct was described as 'Excellent'.
William did return to banking in civilian life and later lived with Mary and David at 29 Shafter Road, Dagenham, Essex. Mary passed away in September 1989 aged 72 and sadly William turned to drink and died on 6th January 1995 aged 76 at King George Hospital, Goodmayes, of Cirrhosis of the liver (alcoholic). The informant was his son David, who himself passed away in August 2002 aged just 52.
Following his education, Willian became a Messenger Clerk, working for a Merchant Bank in the city and by 1938 the family were living at 32 Appian Road, Bow. On 20th October 1938 William aged 19 attested at West Ham, London into the Territorial Army, 6th Battalion Essex Regiment as a Private and with Service Number 6014102. He was described as 5’.4½“ tall, weighing 120lbs, a fresh complexion, blue eyes, very fair hair and his religion was Church of England. He was posted to B Company and embodied on 16th July 1939 serving at home until 27th August when he was called out on 28th, before being embodied a second time on 1st September just 2 days before the start of World War II. The 1939 census shows the family minus William living at Appion Road.
In 1940, William was transferred to the 442 Battery Royal Artillery (RA) as a Gunner, attached to the 40th Brigade School 201 Company and the 40th Anti-Aircraft Brigade School. He was promoted to Lance Bombardier on 28th September 1940 and spent the early years of the war at different locations in the UK on Coastal Batteries and Anti-Aircraft duties. In February 1941, he attended a Physical Training (PT) and Boxing Course, followed by an advanced Boxing Instructors course, in which he was graded above average. He appears to have excelled in the sport as this was followed by a PT Instructors Course and he re mustered as a PT Instructor, serving in 433 Battery and various other training units as an Instructor within the RA, for the remainder of the war. He was promoted Bombardier on 27th June 1942.
On 1st April 1944 he married Mary Woollin in Woodkirk, Yorkshire, Mary’s hometown and they lived at the Appion Road address, having two sons William James born in 1945 and David Alfred born on 5th June 1950, later a Stockbroker. At the end of the war William was awarded the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’ the latter appearing in Army Order 196 of 1946.
In June 1945 he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and on 20th July posted to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Palestine, transferring to the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters as a Corporal on 15th September. Although World War II had brought relative calm to the region, tensions again escalated into an armed struggle towards the end of the war, when it became clear that the Axis Powers were close to defeat. The conflict lasted until the termination of the Palestine mandate and the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948.
William was appointed paid Lance Sergeant on14th November 1945, returning to the UK on 2nd February 1946, serving in the UK until 8th April when he was released from the Army and posted to the Z/T Class Reserve. He was awarded the General Service Medal with clasp ‘Palestine 1945-48’.
On his release, Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion said of William, “A reliable hardworking man who possesses initiative and is not afraid to accept responsibility. He carries out his job in a cheerful, efficient manner. For six years before the War Whiter worked as a Clerk for the Merchant Bankers and he wishes to return to this job. I recommend this man”. His conduct was described as 'Excellent'.
William did return to banking in civilian life and later lived with Mary and David at 29 Shafter Road, Dagenham, Essex. Mary passed away in September 1989 aged 72 and sadly William turned to drink and died on 6th January 1995 aged 76 at King George Hospital, Goodmayes, of Cirrhosis of the liver (alcoholic). The informant was his son David, who himself passed away in August 2002 aged just 52.
The Story The medals awarded to William George Whiter were acquired from E-Bay on 14th June 2021 on a buy it now basis.
They were of immediate interest because of the General Service and Efficiency Medal combination at a very reasonable price and they came with William’s complete service records, confirming the award of all four medals.
His service records, together with the usual Ancestry.UK trawl and extraction of will allowed his biography to be pieced together.
They were of immediate interest because of the General Service and Efficiency Medal combination at a very reasonable price and they came with William’s complete service records, confirming the award of all four medals.
His service records, together with the usual Ancestry.UK trawl and extraction of will allowed his biography to be pieced together.
Medal Details
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- General Service Medal: 6014102 CPL.W.WHITER. FORESTERS.
- Efficiency Medal: 6014102. BDR. W.G.WHITER. R.A.
Return to: The Collection
Go to Previous Page: Stanley Charles WHITE
Go to Next Page: Frederick WHITEWOOD
Go to Previous Page: Stanley Charles WHITE
Go to Next Page: Frederick WHITEWOOD
This page last updated 19 Jun 21
160.00