Rank: Private 41649 Regiment: 7th Bn., Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Died: 16 August 1917 Age: 21 Parish: Otterton, Newton Poppleford Local Memorials: Otterton Memorial Cross Other Memorial: Dochy Farm New British Cemetery [Google] PDF Download: WHITE Frank
Frank’s family came from Otterton. His father was Albert Thomas White and his mother Sarah Selina. They were married in 1891 and had three children, although one died in infancy. They were farmers first in Otterton and by the time Frank was born on 18 September 1896, in Newton Poppleford. He had an elder brother Albert who was two years older than him.
The family lived at the dairy farm at Passaford, and later at Pitson farm in Northmostown. Frank were to the grammar school in Ottery St Mary. Both brothers worked with their father on the farm. Frank decided to enlist in the Army probably as a result of Kitchener's exhortation that “Your Country needs you”. He enlisted in Exeter and joined "The Devons” with the service number 51437. The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers suffered severe losses at the beginning of the war and it seems that he was transferred to this regiment.
Sadly the losses were to happen again. The Inniskillings served throughout the war on the Western front. They were chosen by General Gough to fight in the battle of Passchendaele. This decision “to play the Irish card” was severely criticised by Field Marshal Haig, as it resulted in 50 per cent casualties. Private Frank White was one of these casualties and was killed in action in Flanders, on 16 August 1917, aged 21. He is buried at Dochy Farm New British Cemetery, in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
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