Harold Fred White

Story:
Harold Fred White was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 2 Oct 1897 and baptised at St. James Church, Shaftesbury, on 24 Oct 1897 the son of Charles White, an Engine Fitter, and Emily Lila White (nee Rolls).  He lived his early life in St. James Street, Shaftesbury, until by 1916 he had moved to Pontypridd, Glamorganshire, Wales, to work as a Miner.  He had enlisted on the 28 Jan 1916 but was not embodied until 1 May 1918 joining the Reserve Battalion of the Welsh Guards as a Guardsman (Service No. 5242).  He trained as a Lewis Gunner but remained in the UK throughout his service and was discharged on 10 Jan 1919.  There are no medal records in this case.  His marriage to Elizabeth Sage was recorded in Pontypridd during 1920.  He traveled to New Jersey, USA, from Southampton, Hampshire, in 1923 where he applied for and gained naturalization on 25 Jul 1923.  He completed US Army Draft papers on 15 Feb 1942 where he gave his address as 70 North Willow Street, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey but there is no evidence that he actually served in WW2.   His death was recorded in New Jersey, USA, on 5 Jul 1984.