WHITE, Harold

Rank: 
Corporal
Unit / Base: 
7 Commando
'Special Air Service'
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Army Service Corps
Service: 
Army
Number: 
154976
Honours & Awards: 
Harold White 7 Commando and SAS
Corporal Harold White was awarded the Military Medal for his gallantry whilst serving with 'L' Detachment, Special Air Service Brigade, having left the Commando after operations in Crete.
Recommendation
(by Lt. Col. A.D. Stirling, D.S.O.)
"This NCO has taken part in 5 raids and has himself destroyed more than 20 aircraft. During the second raid on Tamet  Aerodrome (Dec. 1941) this NCO carried on with his task while visible to the enemy and under heavy fire from automatic weapons. He succeeded eventually in shooting his way out from a position in which he was apparently hopelessly surrounded. It is requested that no details of these operations should be published owing to their secrecy."
 
A newspaper article in the Birmingham Mail dated 14th March 1942 quoted "Harold White, who before joining the Army, was a first team full back of West Bromwich Albion, and is now serving in the Middle East, has written to his parents at Wednesbury informing them that he has been awarded the Military Medal. At the time he wrote he was in hospital, but expecting soon to return to duty. White originally joined the R.A.S.C., but transferred to the Commandos, and after going through the fighting in Crete became a paratrooper."
 
Sources
London Gazette 35799, page 5142.
National Archives file WO/373/46/56.
Image © Trinity Mirror.
Image published in the Birmingham Mail - Saturday 14 March 1942.
British Newspaper Archive (website britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk); The British Library Board.
 

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