Sir George White : Short Biography

George White was born in Portstewart, County Derry, on the 6th of July 1835. 

He was educated in Worcestershire before attending the Royal Military College in Sandhurst. When he was old enough, he was placed in the Inniskilling Regiment of Foot. 

In 1854 he was sent to India where he acted in the British military forces during the Indian Mutiny. During this time he was promoted to lietenant and later to captain. 

In 1874, George White married Amelia Maria Baly. The two would go on to have one son and four daughters. Their son, Jack White would become a staunch Irish Republican, even becoming one of the founders of the Irish Citizen Army. 

On the 6th of October 1879, White was stationed in Afghanistan. He led an attack on a fortified hill which artillery and rifle fire had failed to destroy. After a steep climb, they came upon the enemy and found that they were outnumbered by 8 to 1. White advanced, taking a rifle with him, and personally shot the enemy leader. This act caused the remainder of the enemy forces to flee, thereby leaving the hill exposed to capture. 

For this, and other acts of bravery, White was awarded the prestigious Victoria Cross. 

White went on to have a highly decorated military career, eventually achieving the rank of Field Marshall, as well as a knighthood. After he retired from the military, he relocated to England and served as the Governor of the Royal Chelsea Hospital until his death in 1912 at the age of 72. He is buried Broughshane Presbyterian Churchyard in County Antrim.