Robert White (British Army officer)

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Sir Robert White
Born21 February 1827
Died17 September 1902 (1902-09-18) (aged 75)
Aghavoe, Queen's County, Ireland
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
RankGeneral
Commands held22nd Brigade
Eastern District.
Battles/warsCrimean War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

General Sir Robert White KCB (21 February 1827 – 17 September 1902) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding Eastern District.

Military career[edit]

White was commissioned into the 17th Light Dragoons on 15 October 1847,[1] and was promoted to lieutenant the following year. Promoted to captain in 1852,[2] he fought and was severely wounded at the Battle of Alma in September 1854 during the Crimean War.[3] He was also badly wounded at the Battle of Balaclava in October 1854, when he had his horse shot under him.[4] In 1857 he proceeded with his regiment to India, and served throughout the campaign in Central India 1858–1859, part of the time in command of a flying column. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 1860, to colonel in 1865, and to major-general in 1870.[2] He went on to be Commander of the 22nd Brigade, based at Norton Barracks in Worcestershire, in 1873[5] and General Officer Commanding Eastern District in September 1882.[6] Promotion to lieutenant-general followed in 1885, and to general in 1890.[2]

He was also Colonel of the 21st Hussars from 1886 until his death in 1902.[7]

White died at Aghavoe, Queen's County, Ireland on 17 September 1902, after nearly a year's illness.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "No. 20782". The London Gazette. 15 October 1847. p. 3617.
  2. ^ a b c d "Obituary - General Sir Robert White". The Times. No. 36877. London. 19 September 1902. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Battle of Alma". Mersey Times. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  4. ^ Fortescue, J.W. (1895). "A history of the 17th Lancers". Macmillan & Co. p. 138.
  5. ^ "Norton Barracks". Worcestershire Regiment. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  6. ^ "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 23 November 2015.
  7. ^ "No. 25577". The London Gazette. 13 April 1886. p. 1780.
Military offices
Preceded by GOC Eastern District
1882–1886
Succeeded by
Preceded by Colonel of 21st Regiment of Hussars/21st (Empress of India′s) Lancers
1886–1902
Succeeded by