1905 GIBRALTAR Governor, Field Marshal SIR GEORGE WHITE V.C. re KING EDVII visit

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1905 GIBRALTAR Governor, Field Marshal SIR GEORGE WHITE V.C. re KING EDVII visit
This product data sheet is originally written in English.
1905 GIBRALTAR Governor, Field Marshal SIR GEORGE WHITE V.C. to Frederick Ponsonby Assistant Private secretary to King EDVII letter regarding possible visit by the King to Gibraltar, back of letter partly pasted to page & from Sir John Ponsonbys Autograph collection.
"GIBRALTAR
PRIVATE
3rd Feby 1905
Dear Major Ponsonby,
I see it stated in various papers that the King is likely to Cruise on the Mediteraeneam this spring and I would be very grateful if His majesty would allow me to be informed whether H.M. will call at Gibraltar & if possible the probable length of stay there.
I am under orders to make over the Governorship to Sir W.G.Nicholson towards the end of March, but I would like to have every thing here as ready as possible in case the King honors Gibraltar by a visit.
Believe me, Sincerely Yours.
George. S.White
To Major Ponsonby CVO/ Assistant Private Secretary to/The King"
Field Marshal Sir George Stuart White, VC, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GCVO (6 July 1835 – 24 June 1912) was an officer of the British Army
.
He was stationed at Peshawar during the Indian Mutiny and then fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and at the Battle of Kandahar in September 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. For his bravery during these two battles, he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He went on to command a brigade during the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1886 and became commander of Quetta District in 1889 in which role he led operations in the Zhob Valley and in Balochistan. He was commander of the forces in Natal at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899. He commanded the garrison at the siege of Ladysmith: although instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to surrender the garrison he responded "I hold Ladysmith for the Queen" and held out for another four months before being relieved in February 1900. He finished his career as Governor of Gibraltar and then as Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Early career
White was born at Low Rock Castle, Portstewart, County Londonderry. He was the son of James Robert White of Whitehall, Broughshane, County Antrim, and Frances Ann Stewart (daughter of George Stewart (d.1808), Surgeon-General to the British Forces in Ireland, and his wife Frances Stewart of Killymoon Castle).[1] He was educated at Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire and later at King William's College on the Isle of Man and then at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[2] He was commissioned as an ensign in the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment of Foot on 4 November 1853.
White was sent to India in 1854 and, having been promoted to lieutenant on 29 January 1855,[4] was stationed at Peshawar during the Indian Mutiny in 1857.[2] He was promoted to captain on 10 July 1863[5] and transferred to the 92nd Regiment of Foot on 4 August 1863.[6] He returned to England before being further promoted to major on 24 December 1863.[7] After five years in England he went back to India with his regiment in 1868.[7] He was given command of his battalion in 1875 and then fought at the Battle of Charasiab in October 1879 and at the Battle of Kandahar in September 1880 during the Second Anglo-Afghan War.
Victoria Cross
He was 44 years old when the following deeds took place in Afghanistan for which he was awarded the VC:
For conspicuous bravery during the engagement at Charasiah on 6 October 1879, when, finding that the artillery and rifle fire failed to dislodge the enemy from a fortified hill which it was necessary to capture, Major White led an attack upon it in person. Advancing with two companies of his regiment; and climbing from one steep ledge to another, he came upon a body of the enemy, strongly posted, and outnumbering his force by about 8 to 1. His men being much exhausted, and immediate action being necessary, Major White took a rifle, and, going on by himself, shot the leader of the enemy. This act so intimidated the rest that they fled round the side of the hill, and the position was won. Again, on 1 September 1880, at the battle of Candahar, Major White, in leading, the final charge, under a heavy fire from the enemy, who held a strong position and were supported by two guns, rode straight up to within a few yards of them, and seeing the guns, dashed forward and secured one, immediately after which the enemy retired.
White's Victoria Cross is displayed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, Scotland.
Later career
Appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in February 1881 and promoted to lieutenant colonel on 2 March,[10] White was briefly Military Secretary to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India before being given command of the 2nd Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders in October that year.[11] He then joined the staff in Egypt as assistant-adjutant and quartermaster-general in February 1885[12] with promotion to colonel on 2 March 1885.[13]
In September 1885 White was given command of a brigade of the Madras Army[14] and led it as the 2nd Brigade of the British Burma Division[15] during the Third Anglo-Burmese War in November 1885.[16] Promoted to local major general on 1 April 1886,[17] he led the subsequent occupation of Burma as Commander of the Upper Burma Field Force in mid-1886 and was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.[18][19] Promoted to the substantive rank of major general on 1 July 1887,[20] he was given command of Quetta District in April 1889 and led operations in the Zhob Valley and in Balochistan.[7][21] In the 1890 New Year Honours List White was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.[22] Upgraded to a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire in March 1893,[23] he became Commander-in-Chief, India with the local rank of lieutenant general in April,[24] which was made substantive on 1 April 1895.[25] Made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in June 1897 and a Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India the following January,[26][27] White became Quartermaster-General to the Forces in October 1898.[28]
White became commander of the forces in Natal in September 1899[29] at the opening of the Second Boer War and fought at the Battle of Elandslaagte in October 1899.[30] He then withdrew to Ladysmith where he took command of the garrison during the siege of Ladysmith with his aide-de-camp Clive Dixon (later portraying the siege in watercolour): when his position there became untenable he was instructed by General Sir Redvers Buller to destroy the guns and surrender the garrison on the best terms he could. White responded "I hold Ladysmith for the Queen" and held out for another four months before the town was relieved in late February 1900. His health greatly reduced, White left the city in early March to recover in more peaceful parts of the colony, staying in Pietermaritzburg and later in East London.[31] For his service in the war he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) later that year,[32] having earlier been made a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in May 1900.[33]
White became Governor of Gibraltar in May 1900 and,[34] in that role, was promoted to full general on 9 October 1900 and to field marshal on 8 April 1903.[35][36]
In 1905 he was appointed to a Commission of Inquiry into contracts placed with private contractors during the Second Boer War;[37] he was appointed a Member of the Order of Merit later that year.[38] He was Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea from 17 June 1905[39] until his death there on 24 June 1912.[40] He was buried at Broughshane, a village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.[9] A statue of White is currently located at Portland Place, London,[41] while the Sir George White Memorial Flute Band still operates in Broughshane, Ballymena.[42]
White was also honorary colonel of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion the Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry)[43] and, later, of the Gordon Highlanders.
[44] Family
In 1874 White married Amelia Maria Baly, daughter of the Venerable Joseph Baly, Archdeacon of Calcutta, with whom he had one son and four daughters.[7] James Robert (Jack) White, Rose Frances White, May Constance White (Currie), Amy Gladys Stuart White (Lady Napier) and Georgina Mary White. Lady White was invested as a Companion of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India (CI) by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 6 March 1900.[45] In the year after her husband's death their unoccupied house at Englefield Green was badly damaged by suffragette arsonists. Elsie Duval and Olive Beamish were the suspects.
Their son Jack White, after service in the British Army, became an Irish republican and socialist who co-founded the Irish Citizen Army along with James Connolly and James Larkin.
Fresh to the Market Place, from Major-General Sir John Ponsonby's Collection
For more from this collection see our shop category for SIR HENRY & JOHN PONSONBY COLLECTION
John Ponsonby (British Army officer)From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major-General Sir John Ponsonby KCB CMG DSO (25 March 1866 – 26 March 1952) was a British Army officer who commanded 5th Division during World War I
Born the son of Sir Henry Ponsonby (Queen Victoria's Private Secretary), his Mother Hon. Mary Elizabeth Ponsonby, Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria and a daughter of John Crocker Bulteel.
His brothers were Frederick Ponsonby, ( Assistant Private Secretary to Edward VII & GV), and Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede, (British politician, writer, and social activist).
Sir John was educated at Eton College, He was gazetted to the Royal Irish Rifles 16 November 1887, and to the Coldstream Guards 15 August 1888, becoming Lieutenant 29 June 1891. He was ADC to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, South Africa, 10 August 1891 to 30 January 1895; served in operations in Matabeleland (Medal); was promoted to Captain 7 September 1898, and in that year served in Uganda (Medal), and again in 1899, during the operations against Kabarega (clasp). Captain Ponsonby served in the South African War, 1899-1902, on special service with the Rhodesian Field Force, 19 February 1900 to 7 July 1901. He was Adjutant, 5th New Zealand Regiment, 8 June 1900 to 1 January 1901; afterwards in command 1 January to 18 January 1901. From February to May 1900, be was employed with Mounted Infantry, and he took part in operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, from July to 29 November 1900; operations in the Transvaal, February to June 1901; operations in Cape Colony, February to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "John Ponsonby, Captain, Coldstream Guards. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 27 October 1901. He was promoted to Major 23 January 1904, and commanded the Guards' Depot 1 March 1905 to 28 February 1907. He became Lieutenant Colonel 28 October 1913.
Lieutenant Colonel Ponsonby served in the European War, 1914—18; Landed in France 13th August 1914 in charge of 1st Coldstream Guards,Wounded 15th September & returned to unit 21st November. commanded the 2nd Guards Brigade, BEF, 26 August 1915 to 19 November 1916: was given the Brevet of Colonel 1 January 1916; commanded the Special Reserve Infantry Brigade 28 November 1916 to 7 March 1917; commanded the 21st Infantry Brigade, BEF, 8 March to 20 March 1917; became Colonel 20 March 1917; commanded the 2nd Guards Brigade, British Armies in France, 21 March to 21 August 1917; commanded the 40th Division, British Armies in France, 22 August 1917 to 3 July 1918; subsequently commanded the 5th Division, British Armies in France, 4 July 1918 to 1 April 1919; was promoted to Major General 1 January 1919. He was mentioned in Despatches; created a CMG in 1915, a CB in 1918, and was given the Brevet of Colonel.
He went on to become General Officer Commanding 5th Division remaining in that role until the end of the War. After the War he became General Officer Commanding the Madras District of India. He retired in 1928.
He lived at Haile Hall near Beckermet in Cumbria
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1905 GIBRALTAR Governor, Field Marshal SIR GEORGE WHITE V.C. to Frederick Ponsonby Assistant Private secretary to King EDVII letter regarding possible visit by the King to Gibraltar, back of letter partly pasted to page & from Sir John Ponsonbys Autograph collection. "GIBRALTAR PRIVATE 3rd Feby 1905 Dear Major Ponsonby, I see it stated in various papers that the King is likely to Cruise on the Mediteraeneam this spring and I would be very grateful if His majesty would allow me to be informed whether H.M. will call at Gibraltar & if possible the probable length of stay there. I am under orders to make over the Governorship to Sir W.G.Nicholson towards the end of March, but I would like to have every thing here as ready as possible in case the King honors Gibraltar by a visit. Believe
Type
Historical
Related Interests
Victoria Cross
EAN
Does Not apply
Country
Gibraltar
City/Town/Village/Place
Gibraltar-Government House
Certified Genuine
Yes
Theme
Military
Era
1905
Addressed to
Frederick Ponsonby
Famous Persons in history
Field Marshal George S White V.C.
Document Type
Original Manuscript Letter
Related Interests 2
King Edward VII