2nd Lieutenant Edward Thexton White

• Age: 25
• From:
• Regiment: Kings Own RLR
• Died on Thursday 20th September 1917
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 18 - 19

Edwin Thexton was born on 24th June 1892 at Wigton, Cumbria the son of Thomas McCall White and his wife Margaret (nee Bell). They were married in the second quarter of 1874. 

The 1901 Census finds the family living at Burn Foot, Wigton, Cumbria.

Edwin is recorded as 8 years of age. His father, recorded as Tom McCall White is head of the household, he is a preserve manufacturer born at Dearham, Cumberland in 1848. His mother Margaret was born in Cockermouth in 1851. Edwin has three siblings, all born in Cumbria; Maggie aged 25, Violet aged 20 and a music teacher and Tom McCall junior aged 12. Also present are a visitor Mary Ann White and a servant Sarah Ann Fearon.

Edwin was admitted to Nelson Thomlinson school, Wigton in 1901. 

By 1911 the family have moved to 8 Coronation Drive, Crosby, Liverpool.

Margaret is the head of household and is now a widow. Edwin is now 18 and is shown as an insurance clerk. His elder sister Lily is in the household and she is 33 years of age and an elementary teacher. Also shown is a servant Beatrice Ellen Ryall.

Edwin enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool on 01st September 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15830. 

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

Edwin was wounded at Le Transloy on 12/10/16 and was evacuated to Fishponds Hospital, Bristol. Upon his recovery, he entered Cadet School at Kinmel Park, Rhyl. He was Gazatted on 15th June 1917 as 2nd Lieutenant in the King's Own Lancaster Regiment and returned to France on 29/7/17. He was killed in action on first day as an Officer during the Battle of Menin Road Bridge on 20/9/17. He was shot through the right side and died immediately. He was 25 years of age. His body was either lost or destroyed during further fighting as he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. 

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Edwin is commemorated on the family headstone at St Lukes Churchyard, Crosby:

Edwin Thexton White
Who fell in action in Flanders
20th September 1917. Aged 25.

Edwin is commemorated on the following memorials:

Nelson Thomlinson School, Wigton

Blundellsands Methodist Church on Mersey Road, Blundellsands.  

His sister Violet Holliday died aged 37 on 19th January 1918 just 4 months after her brother.

Grateful thanks are extended to Kim White who took the photograph of Edwin's name on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

We currently have no further information on Edwin Thexton White, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.