John White

Story:
John White, sometimes known as Jack, was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23rd January 1890, the son of William White and Lydia White (née Hillier).  The family lived at 8 St. James Street, Shaftesbury, for many years. His mother, Lydia, died in 1915 and shortly after Jack, who had worked as a Carpenter and Joiner, enlisted on 14th November 1915 and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper (Service No. 143211).  He served in France and Flanders from 15 Jun 1916 with the 281st Army Transport Company and was reported missing on 30th March 1918 at Bavilliers, Northern France, with a subsequent report on 1st April 1918 that he had become a Prisoner of War, eventually ending up at a camp and Military Hospital in Stendal, Germany.   Following his repatriation on 2 Dec 1918 he was attached to the 'G' Depot Company RE and was diagnosed with rheumatism caused by conditions in the POW Camp and finally discharged on 16th April 1919. He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals. He went back to live at 8 St. James Street, as confirmed in the 1921 Census, living with his widower father and working as a Carpenter. He married Minnie Elizabeth Davis in Shaftesbury during 1930 and set up home at 20 Gold Hill, Shaftesbury.  By the 1939 Register he was living at Winterton, Layton Lane, Shaftesbury, still working as a Carpenter.  His death at the early age of 50 years was registered at Sturminster, Dorset, in 1940 and he was buried in the Shaftesbury Town Cemetery on 24 Jul 1940.