Sir George White

General Sir George Stewart White VC, GCB, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO was born in 1835. His military career began in 1853 when he joined the Army.

In the second Afghan War of 1879/80 he was awarded the Victoria Cross and during 1880 and1881 he served as Military Secretary to the Viceroy in India. In 1885 he was assigned to special service in Egypt and later the same year became Brigadier-General in Madras. He became Commanding-Brigadier on the Burmese expedition of 1885-6 and from 1886-89 he commanded the Upper Burma Field Force. In 1889 he was promoted to Major-General and then Commander-In-Chief West Indies. Between 1898-99 he served as Quarter Master General Headquarters of Army.

In 1899 with further promotion to Lieutenant-General he found himself in South Africa commanding the Natal Forces and was confined in Ladysmith during the Siege. In July 1900 he became Commander-In-Chief Gibralter.

He was a famous son of the Gordon Highlanders and died on 24th June 1912.

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The following is a transcript of a letter given to White by the residents of Ladysmith after the siege was lifted.

To Lt.General Sir George S White VC;GCB;GSI;GCE,Commanding the Natal Field Force.

Sir,

We, the Mayor & members of the town council of the borough of Ladysmith Natal & as such representing the inhabitants of the said borough, beg to offer you our hearty congratulations & express gratitude for the very able manner in which you have organised the defence of this town during the prolonged siege of 120 days. We fully recognise the difficulties & dangers, which you have had to encounter in defending such an extended area, and that your efforts have been successful is shown by the signal manner in which the gallant troops under your command have resisted the repeated attacks of the Boer forces.

We trust that you may long be spared to continue your illustrious services to your Queen & in the welfare of your country.

Given under our common seal at Ladysmith Natal this 6th day of March 1900.

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Another letter written to the Mayor from a George Willis, the Mayor prior to the siege, was not of the same opinion however. He wrote

To Sir Joseph Farquhar “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” Mayor of Ladysmith.

On what terms, may I enquire, did you take service as commissary General with the military staff over the civilian residents of Ladysmith. It is true, as currently reported, that the reward of your truculency and disregard of the Burgesses rights, welfare, and interests ( which you have given away on every occasion) is to be your advancement to the Order of Knighthood?

If so, allow me to forestall the distinction before the siege and are relieved by the arrival of the patent. Let me also inform you, that, I for one, refuse to hand over either eggs or poultry on the pretence put forward by you in the name of military authorities. You stopped the market where the military were free to obtain supplies for their hospitals by paying for them, like everybody else, and by so doing you discouraged private enterprise and stopped the supply itself. On what principle of justice or fairplay are owners of poultry to be robbed of their property without compensation? Why are the few who saved a last source of sustenance for their families, while others fared sumptuously to be deprived of both income and food? The civilian aged, sick women and children need eggs as well as the military sick. Can’t you see? The military can obtain their supplies after we provide for ourselves, by paying for them and then “Tommy” will get his share as well as his superiors (Ah!) I hope all will resist this new imposition as I shall.

Signed – G.W. Willis.Ladysmith 24th February 1900.

Gen. White returned from South Africa in 1900 when Lord Roberts declared the War over. Sir George was then sent to command in Gibralter where he remained four years during which he was visited by King Edward who then & there announced his intention of creating the gallant soldier a Field Marshall with, added his Majesty, “he hopes that Sir George will now desist from risking his life in point to point racing” to which the new Field Marshall promptly replied: “But, your Majesty, I thought the foremost duty of a Field Marshall was to be first in the field.”