Private
White, William Albert
Unit
15th Canadian Infantry Battalion
Branch
Infantry
Service Component
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Service Number
77687
birth
1896/01/02
West Smethwick, United Kingdom, England
death
1915/05/21
France
grave
Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Vimy Ridge, France
Gender
Male
William Albert White was born in West Smethwick, England, on 2 January 1896. He was the son of Frank and Mary Ann White.
White was a tinsmith before he enlisted in the 30th Canadian Infantry Battalion (2nd British Columbia Regiment) in Victoria, British Columbia, on 18 November 1914. After initial training in Canada, he was shipped to England with his unit on 23 February 1915. The 30th Battalion was transported to England on three ships: SS Magentic, SS Missanabie, and SS Borderland. The Missanabie and Borderland travelled to Avonmouth, while the Magentic headed for Liverpool. All three ships arrived at their destination on 7 March 1915.
The 30th Battalion’s nominal roll does not state on which ship White travelled. Upon arrival in England, the battalion was renamed the 30th Reserve Battalion and was used to provide reinforcements to Canadian units already in the field. As a result, White was transferred to the 15th Canadian Infantry Battalion.
White was killed in action in France on 21 May 1915, during the Battle of Festubert, part of the larger Second Battle of Artois. His body was lost.
William Albert White is commemorated on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, on Vimy Ridge, in France.
