Description
Queen’s South Africa, bar Natal, King’s South Africa, 1911 Coronation Metropolitan Police reverse, 3783 Lance Corporal W.W. White, 5th Royal Irish Lancers, later Constable in the Met Police.
A scarce single Natal clasp.
QSA officially engraved ‘Cavalry Style’ : “3783 L. Corpl: W.W. White. 5/Lcrs”
KSA officially impressed: “3783 Pte W.W. White. 5th Lancers.”
1911 Coro officially engraved: “PC W. White”.
Medal entitlement confirmed on the roll.
William Walter White, was born in Hednesford, Staffordshire, circa 1872.
Father was James White, 68 Stibbington Somerstown, London.
Aged 18, he first joined the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers on 12th April 1890.
Barely a year into his service, a young William was promoted to Lance Corporal on 3rd November 1891.
Before reverting to Private on 26th December 1893, he was appointed once again on 12th October 1894.
His Army Reserve time was interrupted like most men when he was “Recalled to Army Service under the Special Army Order of 11th November 1899.”
He rejoined his old regiment as a Lance Corporal on 13th November.
He saw the following postings during his career:
Home, 9th April 1890 – 9th march 1892
India, 10th March 1892 – 5th November 1897
Home, 6th Nov 1897 – 1st Dec 1899
South Africa, 2nd December 1899 – 29th August 1902
Home, 30th August 1902 – 31st August 1902.
According to JHF Kemp’s book on Metropolitan Police Medals:
His entry is marked with a * denoting service in the Boer War.
Whilst in the Army Reserve, he signed up with the Met on 21st March 1898 as a Police Constable in “S” Division, with badge number 83779.
He would go on to serve an extensive career in the Police, until his discharge to pension stationed at “S” Division on 26th March 1923, with a small interruption having been recalled for the Boer War.
S Division was Hampstead at the time.
