M.B.E., GSM (Palestine), WW2 Mentioned In Despatches & 1953 Coronation Medal Group of Eight – Brigadier G. W. ‘Bill’ White, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, East Yorkshire Regiment & Parachute Regiment

A second world war Middles East operations MBE group of eight to Brigadier Gilbert William ‘Bill’ White, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. East Yorkshire Regiment and Parachute Regiment. 

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) (Military) unnamed as issued
General Service Medal (Clasp – Palestine) named to Lieut. G.W. White. K.R.R.C. 
1939-45 Star unnamed as issued 
Africa Star (Clasp – 8th Army) unnamed as issued 
France & Germany Star unnamed as issued 
WW2 Defence Medal unnamed as issued 
1939-45 War Medal (with MID oak leaf emblem) unnamed as issued 
1953 Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal unnamed as issued 

M.B.E.- London Gazette, 6th July 1941
The original recommendation states:
  ‘For valuable and most active Staff work. Captain White has been Staff Captain, 7th Support Group for over a year and throughout a period which included the formation of the H.Q. under exceptional difficulties, and then nine months of continuous active operations almost always in contact with the enemy. He has done outstanding work for units and has made himself an excellent Staff Captain through his energy, resource and unruffled temperament. He refused to go sick in spite of ill-health during the December 1940-January 1941 operations, when his determination kept him at duty.’

M.I.D. – London Gazette, 13th January 1944

Bill White was born on 6th July 1912. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps on 2nd February 1933. He is mentioned in the Regimental magazines chronicles in the sports pages stating that he was a keen and able club grade cricketer, scoring 67 for the Corps against the Rifle Brigade in July 1934. Promoted Lieutenant 2nd February and in 1936 he is appointed Mechanical Transport Officer, HQ Wing. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion on 11th November 1938. He served with the 2nd Battalion KRRC in Palestine in 1939. He is listed as a Lieutenant and Captain on the Roll, so must have been promoted to Captain in Palestine.

Between 1940 and 1941, he served in the African Campaign as a Staff Captain with the 7th Armoured Division. He was awarded the MBE.

In June 1940 the Division took part in a series of Border raids along the frontier and in the counter-attack at Sidi Barrani, in November that year, where large numbers of Italian prisoners were taken. Then in January 1941, it took part in the successful capture of Tobruk and Bardia, followed by culminating action at Beda Fomm, in February 1941, when the retreating Italians were held by a small force while the rest of the Division caught up causing the surrender of over 25,000 Italians. This campaign effectively destroyed the Italian Army in North Africa. White was awarded the MBE.

A brief appointment in Cairo having followed, he re-joined the Desert Rats as Deputy Assistant Quarter-Master General in June 1941 and remained similarly employed in most of the period leading up to July 1942. Advanced to the War substantive rank of Major, he next served as Assistant Adjutant & Quarter-Master General to the 1st Armoured Division in the period July 1942 to August 1943, prior to returning Home to an appointment as G.S.O. 1 at the war Office.

He was mentioned in Despatches gazetted on 13th January, 1944.

In preparation to D-Day A/Lt-Col White was appointed Commanding Officer of the 5th Bn. East Yorkshire Regiment. On 6th June 1944 the battalion arrived in LSI’s six miles off the Normandy coast at 05.00hrs and the LCA’s were dropped into the rough sea, force 5 winds from the west and 4 foot waves. They landed to its Red King beach part of the 50th Northumbrian Division, 69th Infantry Brigade, they were met by the enemy with some shelling, but none of the unit’s craft were hit. The Battalion moved forward on route Ver-Sur-Mer, Villers-Le-Sec, Lt-Col White was advancing with the forward troop of B Company near St-Gabriel when he was hit and wounded around 15.00 hrs by German Machine gun fire.  Major J.H.F. Dixon took over command of the Battalion. North of St Gabriel was held up by one German Infantry Company and two 75mm Anti Aircraft Guns. St-Gabriel was occupied by the Battalion at 17.50hrs. The 5th Battalion suffered heavily, Ten Officers were casualties and 85 O.R. were killed on the beaches alone.

Lt-Col White Commanded the 12th Battalion of the KRRC in the last months of the War as the British Army enters Germany.

In 1952 Lt-Colonel White was appointed C.O. of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment until 1955. This is confirmed on paradata.

On November 1955, he was promoted Colonel and he served as an Attache in Washington D.C.

His final appointment, Temporary Brigadier Commanding officer Territorial Army 169th Infantry Brigade (Green Jacket) from 1956 to 1959.

The medals are in good condition and are court mounted for wear.

Era: WW2